Facts about the Homeless Crisis
- Over a 5-year period, about 2 - 3% of the U.S. population (5 -
8 million people) will experience at least one night of homelessness.
- Nationally, there are approximately 750,000 people experiencing
homelessness on any given night.
- People remain homeless an average of eight months. 23% are
chronically homeless.
- Families with children are among the fastest growing segments of
the homeless population.
- A study of 50 cities concluded that in every city, the official
estimated number of homeless greatly exceeds the number of emergency
shelter and transitional housing spaces.
- Nearly half of the homeless people (44%) are unsheltered, or living
on the street.
- Battered women who live in poverty are often forced to choose between
abusive relationships and homelessness.
- Officials estimate that on average, single men comprise 51% of
the homeless popu-lation, families with children 30%, single women
17% and unaccompanied youth 2%.
- Only 16% of homeless are considered mentally ill; 26% substance
abusers.
- States with the highest rates of homelessness by percentage of
state population are District of Columbia, Alaska, California, Colorado,
Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Rhode Island and Washington state.
- Minimum wage earnings no longer lift families above the poverty
line.
- Homeless children have twice the rate of learning disabilities
and three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems of
non-homeless children.
References:
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts.html
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/How_Many.pdf
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/Whois.pdf
http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/facts/you.pdf
http://www.samhsa.gov/Matrix/statistics_homeless.aspx
http://www.theroadhome.org/pdfs/HomelessFactSheet.pdf |
