- 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
In the US, more than
3.5
million people
experience homelessness each year.
According to the National Law Center on Poverty and Homelessness, the following are
the…
Fundamental Causes of Homelessness in the US
Lack of Affordable Housing: almost HALF of the homeless
population works, but does not earn enough to pay for
housing.
Lagging Incomes: Incomes for the poorest Americans
have not kept pace with rising housing costs. Millions of
workers are shut out of the private housing market.
Slashed Services and Government Assistance: assistance
programs have been severely cut.
"Now is the time to make an
adequate income a reality for
all of God's children, now is the
time for city hall to take a
position for that which is just
and honest."
-- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Living Wage: Washington DC
Hourly
Wages
One Adult
One Adult,
One Child
Two Adults Two
Adults,
One Child
Two
Adults,
Two
Children
Living
Wage
11.92
19.98
16.41
24.48
30.76
Poverty
Wage
5.04
6.68
6.49
7.81
9.83
Minimum
Wage
7.55
7.55
7.55
7.55
7.55
Living Wage a wage which is based upon the cost of living in an area, rather than on an
arbitrary minimum
Minimum Wage the lowest hourly, daily, or monthly amount of money that employers
may legally pay to workers.