| Facts on Homelessness:
Who is Homeless?
The skid-row stereotype does not go far in describing the homeless
population of Boston:
- In 2000, there were almost 6000 homeless in Boston alone
- The number of homeless families has been on the upswing this
past decade. 34% of homeless service users are members of a homeless
family (11% parents and 23% children).
- 77% of single homeless are male and 23% are female
- 44% hold paying jobs in any given month; Only 8% received money
from panhandling; Only 11% receive SSI benefits, 9% receive state
or local cash benefits, and 6% of homeless veterans receive veteran-related
disability payments.
- 37% have not completed high school, 36% have a high school
diploma, and 28% have education beyond the high school level
- 38% indicate alcohol abuse problems, 26% drug use problems
and 39% have mental health problems-66% report a combination of
one or more of the above
- 26% report having acute infectious conditions and 46% report
chronic health conditions; 55% of homeless are not covered by medical
insurance
- Single homeless persons have a mean income of $348 per month,
only 51% of the 1996 federal poverty level
What are the causes of homelessness?
The causes are as varied as the population. The city of Boston reports
several major causes of homelessness as:
- Lack of Affordable Housing
- Low-Paying Jobs
- Substance Abuse and lack of needed services
- Mental Illness and lack of needed services
Despite the continued efforts of many, homelessness remains a serious
problem in cities around the country. Requests for emergency shelter
have been increasing over the years, and many continue to be unmet.
In 2000, 37% of requests for shelter were unmet. More help is needed
to combat the problem of homelessness, and the involvement of one person
has the potential for impacting the lives of many.
*facts were obtained from the Congressional research service report
for Congress, “Homeless in America”, IP 314H
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