Homelessness Facts in America

The homeless statistics underscore what can only be described as a humanitarian crisis that exist inside the borders of the world’s biggest economy. In many metropolitan communities, especially those in warm weather climates, it is impossible to ignore the presence of this crisis but in other areas where the climate is less accommodating the problem is not as large. This variance has caused the nation’s political leaders to push the crisis to a back burner and for the most part left the problem up top local communities to resolve.

The Facts About Homelessness in the US

In early July, 2014, the National Center on Homelessness and Poverty revealed some compelling statistics regarding homelessness, poverty and food that exists on streets in just about every major city and many non-major cities across the US.

1,750,000 – This statistic is the number of known homeless people presently residing somewhere in the US.

28 Percent – This shocking percentage is the number of Americans who do not get enough food to eat every day inside the borders of the US. This includes children and adults.

30 percent – 30 percent of the US homeless population has been homeless for at least two years. This underscores the lingering nature of the homelessness epidemic.

40 percent – Of the nation’s homeless women, 40 percent do not have a partner.

22 percent – A shocking 22 percent of the nation’s homeless women say they have been sexually abused in the last 12 months.

31,000,000 – This is the number of Americans who either suffer hunger or live on the edge of hunger as of July 1, 2014. To many, Americans this seems an impossible number.

40 percent – It has been well chronicled but remains disturbing that 40 percent of the homeless population are veterans of the US military.

66 percent – Symptom many homeless people share are drug or alcohol addiction or abuse or mental illness. The Center estimates that 66 percent of the homeless population suffers these afflictions.

$348 – This is the average monthly income of the homeless population. Interestingly, 44 percent of homeless persons reported receiving pay for work performed in the month prior to the survey.

35 percent – 36 percent of the homeless population report having a family and children. 7 percent of the homeless population qualify as unaccompanied minors.

44 percent – This is the percentage of the homeless population that is single men. 13 percent is the percentage of single, homeless women.

50 percent – The National Center on Homelessness and Poverty indicates that 50 percent of the homeless population in the US is African-American. 35 percent are white and 12 percent Hispanic. Native Americans comprise about 2 percent6 of the homeless ranks.

12,000,000 – This is the number of children in the US who live below the poverty level. 9,300,000 recipients of food stamps are children.

6,252 – This is the average number of families in New York City who ledge in a homeless shelter every night.

20 percent – This statistic applies to the percentage of persons in soup lines every day that are children.

What do these statistics reveal? The statistics from the center indicate that homelessness and poverty represent a national crisis that is genderless, affects children and seniors and all races in the US. A national epidemic? You bet.