Approximately 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year. (1)
Full time work at the current minimum wage does not provide sufficient income for a modest rental unit in any county in America. (5)
Families with children are among the fastest growing segments of the homeless population. (2)
Two trends largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 20-25 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. (3)
An average of 23 percent of the requests for emergency shelter by homeless people has gone unmet during the past year. (4)
Listed in order of frequency, the following were identified as factors contributing to homelessness: (4)
- Mental illness and lack of needed services
- Lack of affordable housing
- Substance abuse and lack of needed services
- Low-paying jobs
- Domestic violence
- Prisoner re-entry
- Unemployment
- Poverty
According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, demographic information for the homeless population nationally is as follows: (4)
- 51% are single men
- 30% are families with children
- 17% are single women
- 2% are unaccompanied youth
- 42% are African American
- 39% are White
- 13% are Hispanic
- 4% are Native American
- 2% are Asian
