One of the greatest issues that Madison and Dane County face is the growing poverty rate. Why is this rate getting higher and just how bad is it affecting out schools? On Tuesday September 24th, our host Carousel Bayrd sat down with Linda Ketchem of Madison Urban Ministry (MUM) and the Executive Director, Amy Noble, of the Homeless Services Transition Education Program for Madison Public Schools, to discuss the issue of homelessness and its role in our schools.
Bayrd, Ketchem, and Noble told us about the barriers that we’re facing in our community that are contributing to poverty and homelessness and how it is affecting our schools. Ketchem and Noble also discussed what Madison schools are doing to help students facing homelessness. In addition, Ketchem and Noble told us about what Madison schools are able to provide. Bayrd and her guests also analyzed just how severe the problem is and how desperately we need to close the gap in order for these students to lead healthy happy lives.