Just last year, the national poverty rate rose to include 13.2% of the population. 1 in 7 people were at risk of suffering from hunger in the United States. In addition, 3.5 million people were forced to sleep in parks, under bridges, in shelter or cars.
The combination of the high cost of living, low-wage jobs, and high unemployment rates only exacerbate these problems and force countless Americans to choose between food, housing, and other expenses. Studies show that money devoted to food is typically the first to be sacrificed. Families will often pay their fixed payments first, such as rent and utilities, rather than pay for food.
Unfortunately, these problems will only continue to grow if our society does not make it a national priority to address them in any systemic way.
Who is Homeless and Why?
The homeless population includes people from all walks of life:
- In the U.S., more than 3.5 million people experience homelessness each year.
- 35% of the homeless population are families with children, which is the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.
- 23% are U.S. military veterans.
- 25% are children under the age of 18 years.
- 30% have experienced domestic violence.
- 20-25% suffer from mental illness.
- In urban communities, people experience homelessness for an average of eight months.
People become homeless for a variety of reasons. Homelessness is primarily an economic problem, and is also affected by a number of social and political factors. The number of people experiencing homelessness exploded in the 1980s, as federal funds were withdrawn from low-income housing and social assistance programs for low-income families and the mentally ill. Current federal spending on housing assistance programs targeted at low-income populations is less than 50% of 1976 spending levels.
