There are 256 Kibbutzim in Israel including 16 religious kibbutzim. The registered Kibbutz population is approximately 106,000 people, of whom a total of over 20,000 are children under the age of 18. Most kibbutzim are located in outlying areas, from the most northern Israel to the far Deep South, Arava. Following two decades of an economic and social crisis in most sections of the Kibbutz Movement which resulted in a decline of Kibbutz population the last few years have seen a fresh and a new trend. Many Kibbutzim report of growing numbers of youngsters – singles and families seeking to join Kibbutzim, either as permanent members, or as non-member inhabitants. One problem to a quicker response to this promising trend is the shortage of housing for absorption.