From the June 2000 Study from the Institute for the Study of
Homelessness and Poverty at the Weingart Center:
• Families, defined as a parent(s) with one
or more children, represent 34-37% of the national homeless population. The
typical family has 2.2 minor children and is headed by the mother (84%).
• 23% of homeless adults are veterans
compared to 13% of all American
adults
• Unaccompanied minors account
for an estimated 3-7%
• Nationally, an
estimated 19-45% of the homeless adult population has mental health problems,
compared with 22.9% of the general population.
• The City of Los Angeles Community
Development Dept. estimates that 33-50% of the homeless population is mentally
ill.
The U.S. Conference of Mayors
and/or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development cite the following
causes for homelessness:
•
Poverty
• Lack of affordable
housing
• Change in the labor
market
• Low paying
jobs
• Domestic
violence
• Changes and cuts in public
assistance programs
• Changes in family
structure
• Substance abuse, mental
illness and the lack of needed
services
• Chronic health problems and
lack of access to affordable health care
Posted: Fri - November 1, 2002 at 06:41 PM