A new study from The National Center on Family Homelessness found the number of homeless children increased 38 percent between 2007 and 2010; meaning one in every 45 American children are homeless in a year.

The head of the Rochester and Monroe County YWCA said the new numbers were not surprising. Jean Carroll said the national findings are in line with what the YW has been experiencing for the past two years.

The YW offers emergency shelter and services and transitional housing for women and children. It serves about 300 women a year and often runs at capacity.

The study blames the economic recession for the increase in the number of homeless children nationwide, but the recession is also being blamed for funding cuts to agencies established to take them in.

"Certainly all of the community as a whole needs to look harder at how are we prepared to handle the increase in family homelessness."

Carroll says that collaboration needs to happen at the leadership and local agency levels,
but she says volunteers who are willing to cook in a shelter, put meals together, or drive clients looking for apartments or jobs can also make a difference.