‘West 57th’ Reports Tonight on Effects of Homelessness on Pupils in a Venice School

Poverty, the subject of dramas on NBC Sunday and ABC Monday, is also receiving attention from CBS.

Tonight at 10, CBS is airing a segment on its news magazine “West 57th” that is similar in tone to “God Bless the Children,” the ABC movie airing Monday.

Producer Glenn Silber and reporter Meredith Vieira went to the Bible Tabernacle shelter and Coeur D’Alene Elementary School in Venice, Calif., to tape a report on the emotional, social and educational toll that homelessness takes on children.

Additionally, the attempted exploitation of a destitute family was the subject of “The Equalizer” on CBS Wednesday--an episode that matched ABC’s “Dynasty” in the 10-11 p.m. ratings.

And coming March 29 is “Home Sweet Homeless,” a “CBS Schoolbreak Special” about a mother and three children who lose their home.