I’d like to thank Sarah Miller for her April 19 letter “Adult stress equals child stress.” Poverty is a prime cause of stress. One of the most successful ways we have recently decreased child poverty, in fact by 46%, was the expanded refundable Child Tax Credit provided in 2021. Folks receiving the monthly CTC were able to pay the rent, purchase food, pay for childcare and healthcare, to name just a few benefits. But in January 2022 this program ceased and 19 million children were dumped back into poverty.
Like the letter writer, a teacher, I am a retired pediatrician, and I see the impact these policies have on our children, causing greater stress which leads to long-term health conditions, often detrimental to educational achievements and long-term success. Our future depends on our ability to house, feed, and educate our children.
The impact of homelessness on children is profound. From a First Focus Policy Brief Nov. 2021, “While homelessness for children and youth can take different forms, it always results in frequent upheaval, volatility, and a loss of stability. Children and youth are forced to make frequent moves and cycle between inadequate and often unsafe situations, causing disruption to children’s education, healthcare, and more.” And, it is “estimated 1-in-41 school-age children are homeless” and “those under 6 — experience twice that rate with 1-in-18 living in homeless situations.”
We can fix these problems if we can find the political will. Congress must reinstate an expanded CTC and consider a renter’s tax credit. I applaud the efforts of our Congressman Richie Neal and Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren who have steadfastly promoted the CTC and provision of appropriate housing in our state.
Dr. LeslyeHeilig
Great Barrington