Homeless Children in the World's Megacities: Structural Analysis and Challenges of Modern Metropolises Introduction: social exclusion at the heart of agglomerations The phenomenon of child homelessness and street homelessness in large cities is one of the most acute indicators of systemic social dysfunctions. It is not a local problem of individual regions, but a global challenge common to megacities in both developed and developing countries. From a scientific point of view, "homeless children" is a collective term that includes two often overlapping but distinct categories: children living on the streets (street children) and children without parental care, living in shelters or residential institutions. Research by sociologists, psychologists, and economists shows that the causes of this phenomenon are multi-level, combining macroeconomic factors, institutional failures, and family dysfunction. Global epidemiology and structural causes According to estimates by international organizations (UNICEF, UN-Habitat), there are tens of millions of children around the world whose lives are to some extent connected with the street. However, precise statistics are impossible due to the concealed nature of the phenomenon. Key causes are structural: Economic inequality and poverty: Rapid urbanization in Asia, Africa, and Latin America leads to mass migration of rural families to cities, where they end up in marginalized areas (slums, favelas). Loss of housing, unemployment of parents, and the need for child labor push children onto the streets. In developed countries, the cause is often social orphanhood, exacerbated by economic crises. Crisis of the family institution: The breakdown of the family, domestic violence, alcoholism, or drug addiction of parents are direct causes of a child's leaving the home. For many children, the street becomes a less hostile environment than their own home. Inefficiency of child protection systems: Even in states with a developed social ... Read more