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Homelessness: Statistics, Facts, Homeless People, Shelters, Charities And Youth
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Published: March 12, 2007
Liberal estimates suggest nearly 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year, according to The National Coalition for the Homeless, findings from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, the Urban Institute, and the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers. Of the 3.5 million people experiencing homelessness, approximately 39% are homeless youth and children.
Although the 3.5 million homeless people only account for 1% of the United States population, those who are living in a perpetual state of homelessness more often than not, are not shiftless or lazy, but unfortunate victims at the crux of economic and societal forces.
Homelessness is a difficult condition to measure. Bureaucratic and political bias, a semantic struggle combined with the nature of homeless people, and the very condition of being homeless have made gathering concrete statistics and reliable facts difficult. The term homelessness is broadly defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. According to the 1994 legislation, homelessness is defined as a person who "lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence and ...has a primary night time residence that is: (A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations... (B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or (C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.”
The National Coalition for the Homeless cites two tendencies for the increase in homelessness over the last quarter of the century. The first is an increasing "shortage of affordable rental housing.” The second, operating concurrently, is an "increase in poverty" and a "complex set of circumstances" that force people to make difficult choices "between food, shelter and other basic needs.” Although the economic aspect may seem obvious, social conditions are also a contributing factor.
The usual demographics that come into play when examining social issues such as gender, age, and race are valid when examining the issue of homelessness. Recent numbers show that of those experiencing homelessness, approximately 43% are unmarried males, and 17% are unmarried females. Nearly 40% are under 18 years old, while 42% of homeless youth are less than five years old. The racial demographic of those living in homelessness lends disproportionately towards African-Americans, almost 50%. Caucasians represent 35% Hispanics represent 13%, Native Americans represent 2%, and Asian roughly 1%. Geographic considerations also come into play when examining homelessness. Rural areas usually have larger populations of Caucasian, Native American and Hispanic homeless people.
Although gender, age, and race factor into studying homelessness, other trends become apparent when analyzing data. For example, a larger social component. Among homeless females, nearly a quarter are victims of domestic violence, and cite domestic violence as the cause of their homelessness. Among homeless males, approximately 40% are veterans of the armed services. Another alarming social trend is the prevalence of "severe and persistent mental illness" among the homeless population. Nearly a quarter of homeless single adults are mentally unfit.
The most alarming social aspect of those experiencing homelessness is the number of those who consider themselves bisexual, lesbian, gay, and/or transgender. Recent numbers suggest that of the homeless youth, nearly 40% "identify [themselves] as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/ or transgender.” A January 2007 report by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force suggest several reasons for the skewed numbers of LGBT homeless youth. LGBT youth are often forced from their homes by families disparate over their "sexual orientation or gender identity.” They also cite experiencing "discrimination, harassment and violence" at homeless shelters from "service providers" and take refuge on the streets. Lastly, LGBT youth are an at risk group for "mental health issues and substance abuse" and thus more prone to poverty.
The staggering number of people living in homelessness, their diverse demographical breakdown, and the obvious societal components coupled with economic trends demonstrate that homelessness is rising, and is a staggering, complex issue to confront and resolve. Many homeless charities such as the Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation and Good on Foot are working to offer sanctuary to those experiencing homelessness. Perhaps stopgap solutions, homeless charities are no longer just homeless shelters, but offer services and dedicate resources to rehabilitating America's homeless.
Sources:
"Illinois AMVETS Supports Catholic Charities Homeless Veterans Program With A $2.5 Million Donation.” Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. 3 May 2006. 1 Mar. 2007 <http://www.catholiccharities.net/index.php?id= 91>.
Food on Foot. 1 Mar. 2007 <http://www.foodonfoot.org/>.
"New Report Reveals Epidemic of Homelessness Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth.” National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. 30 Jan. 2007. 1 Mar. 2007 <http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/prH Y_013007>.
"Who Is Homeless?” National Coalition for the Homeless. June 2006.1 Mar. 2007
<http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications /facts/Whois.pdf>.
"How Many People Experience Homelessness?” National Coalition for the Homeless. June 2006. 1 Mar. 2007 <http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/f acts/How_Many.pdf>.
Homelessness is a difficult condition to measure. Bureaucratic and political bias, a semantic struggle combined with the nature of homeless people, and the very condition of being homeless have made gathering concrete statistics and reliable facts difficult. The term homelessness is broadly defined by the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. According to the 1994 legislation, homelessness is defined as a person who "lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence and ...has a primary night time residence that is: (A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations... (B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or (C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.”
The National Coalition for the Homeless cites two tendencies for the increase in homelessness over the last quarter of the century. The first is an increasing "shortage of affordable rental housing.” The second, operating concurrently, is an "increase in poverty" and a "complex set of circumstances" that force people to make difficult choices "between food, shelter and other basic needs.” Although the economic aspect may seem obvious, social conditions are also a contributing factor.
The usual demographics that come into play when examining social issues such as gender, age, and race are valid when examining the issue of homelessness. Recent numbers show that of those experiencing homelessness, approximately 43% are unmarried males, and 17% are unmarried females. Nearly 40% are under 18 years old, while 42% of homeless youth are less than five years old. The racial demographic of those living in homelessness lends disproportionately towards African-Americans, almost 50%. Caucasians represent 35% Hispanics represent 13%, Native Americans represent 2%, and Asian roughly 1%. Geographic considerations also come into play when examining homelessness. Rural areas usually have larger populations of Caucasian, Native American and Hispanic homeless people.
Although gender, age, and race factor into studying homelessness, other trends become apparent when analyzing data. For example, a larger social component. Among homeless females, nearly a quarter are victims of domestic violence, and cite domestic violence as the cause of their homelessness. Among homeless males, approximately 40% are veterans of the armed services. Another alarming social trend is the prevalence of "severe and persistent mental illness" among the homeless population. Nearly a quarter of homeless single adults are mentally unfit.
The most alarming social aspect of those experiencing homelessness is the number of those who consider themselves bisexual, lesbian, gay, and/or transgender. Recent numbers suggest that of the homeless youth, nearly 40% "identify [themselves] as lesbian, gay, bisexual and/ or transgender.” A January 2007 report by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force suggest several reasons for the skewed numbers of LGBT homeless youth. LGBT youth are often forced from their homes by families disparate over their "sexual orientation or gender identity.” They also cite experiencing "discrimination, harassment and violence" at homeless shelters from "service providers" and take refuge on the streets. Lastly, LGBT youth are an at risk group for "mental health issues and substance abuse" and thus more prone to poverty.
The staggering number of people living in homelessness, their diverse demographical breakdown, and the obvious societal components coupled with economic trends demonstrate that homelessness is rising, and is a staggering, complex issue to confront and resolve. Many homeless charities such as the Illinois AMVETS Service Foundation and Good on Foot are working to offer sanctuary to those experiencing homelessness. Perhaps stopgap solutions, homeless charities are no longer just homeless shelters, but offer services and dedicate resources to rehabilitating America's homeless.
Sources:
"Illinois AMVETS Supports Catholic Charities Homeless Veterans Program With A $2.5 Million Donation.” Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. 3 May 2006. 1 Mar. 2007 <http://www.catholiccharities.net/index.php?id= 91>.
Food on Foot. 1 Mar. 2007 <http://www.foodonfoot.org/>.
"New Report Reveals Epidemic of Homelessness Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Youth.” National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. 30 Jan. 2007. 1 Mar. 2007 <http://www.thetaskforce.org/press/releases/prH Y_013007>.
"Who Is Homeless?” National Coalition for the Homeless. June 2006.1 Mar. 2007
<http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications /facts/Whois.pdf>.
"How Many People Experience Homelessness?” National Coalition for the Homeless. June 2006. 1 Mar. 2007 <http://www.nationalhomeless.org/publications/f acts/How_Many.pdf>.
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