Homelessness
and Poverty
in Las Cruces
What is Homelessness?
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Places not meant for
human habitation, such as
cars, parks, sidewalks, and
abandoned buildings;
An emergency shelter; or
Transitional housing for
homeless persons who
originally came from the
streets or emergency
shelter.
Add McKinney Vento
stuff
It’s caused by a wide range of life
situations, such as:
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Loss of a job
End of a relationship
Domestic violence
Physical, emotional and sexual
abuse
Medical condition
Substance abuse
Poor physical health
Mental health
Broken families
Lack of affordable housing
Legal issues
Lack of education
Poverty
New Mexico
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17,000 people are homeless for at
least part of the year.
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Single adults, families with children, unaccompanied
youth
Extended homelessness has been shown to
lead to early death at an average between 42
and 52 years of age.
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Due to the many untreated chronic health conditions as
well as the hardship of living outdoors.
New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness. Retrieved February 15, 2009 from www.nmced.org
In Las Cruces in 2008
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2,000-3,000 unduplicated people
become or remain homeless over
the span of a year.
In 2008, the Community of Hope
served 3,028 unduplicated
individuals about half of whom
lived on the streets, in shelters or
doubled up in motels.
In 2007 the Southern New Mexico
Homeless Providers Coalition and
the New Mexico Coalition
conducted a point-in-time count
and identified a total of 380
homeless persons in Las Cruces
in one night on the streets and in
shelters.
Local numbers
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56% of the homeless
population is known to sleep
outdoors.
Youth numbers… fyi dana
malone
Families…jardin de los ninos
Undocumented ????
Information from the Census
income data believes an
additional 2,000+ people (not
currently served) are at risk
of becoming homeless at any
time.
Who are the homeless in Las Cruces?
With separate slides for
Families with children: FYI, Jardin, GospelRM?
Veterans: Pamela all
Survivors of domestic violence: la casa
Unaccompanied Youth
People with mental illness: SWCC Ralph via PA/Sue
Elderly and disabled: part of MVCH
Chronically homeless individuals: Pamela all
Undocumented: Colonias Dev. Council, Pastoral
Center, Catholic Diocese
Effects
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School, hospital, jail and ambulance costs,
emergency, exasperation of problems, job
instability, ability to get a job, idleness,
heath effects, hopelessness, low-self
esteem, loss of social ties, vulnerability
Community Solutions
How you can help
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Volunteer at a blah blah blah
Donate used clothes blah blah blah
Raise money for you agencies
Say hello and smile at the next homeless
person you see.