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Why we're out on the streets...
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An estimated 842,000 adults and children are homeless in a given week, with that number swelling to as many
as 3.5 million over the course of a year. People who are homeless are the poorest of the poor. While almost half (44%) of
people who are homeless work at least part-time, their monthly income averages only $367 compared to the median monthly income
for U.S. households of $2,840. Those who have disabilities and are unable to work can find it nearly impossible to secure
affordable housing in virtually every major housing market in the country.
The majority are unaccompanied adults, but the number of homeless families is growing:
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66% are single adults, and of these, three-quarters are men
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11% are parents with children, 84% of whom are single women
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23% are children under 18 with a parent, 42% of whom are under 5 years of age
Racial and ethnic minorities, particularly African Americans, are overrepresented:
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41% are non-Hispanic whites (compared to 76% of the general population)
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40% are African Americans (compared to 11% of the general population)
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11% are Hispanic (compared to 9% of the general population)
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8% are Native American (compared to 1% of the general population)
Homelessness continues to be a largely urban phenomenon:
People who are homeless frequently report health problems:
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38% report alcohol use problems
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26% report other drug use problems
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39% report some form of mental health problems (20-25% meet criteria for serious mental illness)
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66% report either substance use and/or mental health problems
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3% report having HIV/AIDS
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26% report acute health problems other than HIV/AIDS such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, or sexually transmitted
diseases
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46% report chronic health conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or cancer
People who are homeless also have high rates of other background characteristics:
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23% are veterans (compared to 13% of the general population)
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25% were physically or sexually abused as children
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27% were in foster care or institutions as children
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21% were homeless as children
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54% were incarcerated at some point of their lives
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From Burt, M.R., Aron, L.Y., Douglas, T., Valente, J., Lee, E., Iwen, B. (1999) Homelessness: Programs and
the People They Serve. Washington, DC: Interagency Council on the Homeless.
Copyright 2002-2008 Shadow of the Cross Inc.
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