Nearly 2.5 million children were homeless last year, according to new figures published by the National Center on Family Homelessness. That’s one out of every 30 kids. The number marked an 8 percent increase since the previous year.

Experts say the staggering economic recovery is to blame, along with a lack of affordable housing. California—home to some of the highest real estate prices in the country, was singled out as the worst state for child homelessness, with more than a half-million children there without a home. (Time)

Paul Asay has written for The Washington Post, Christianity Today, Beliefnet.com and The (Colorado Springs) Gazette. He writes about culture for PluggedIn and wrote the Batman book God on the Streets of Gotham (Tyndale). He recently collaborated with Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, on his book The Good Dad. He lives in Colorado Springs with wife, Wendy, and his two children. Check out his entertainment blog or follow him on Twitter.