Homelessness and Poverty in America-

A Growing Epidemic

In the last two years homeless rates went up by 35 to 45% . Homeless people normally don’t have much food. Over 30% of Americans don’t make the cut for food stamps. By rich towns children still live hungry and homeless. At the food banks they give food to a lot of children and families. 39% of homeless people are children. Six months is the minimum that people stay homeless. In some cities they are making homeless people’s actions illegal, this includes sleeping on streets and going across a parking lot if you don’t have a car there. (1,2)
Homeless people are individuals or families who are sleeping in places not meant for humans, like cars, parks, sidewalks, and abandoned buildings, or those who are sleeping in emergency shelters as primary nighttime residence. Homeless people can get food at the shelters. Shelters get food from volunteers and some federally funded programs. Most cities throughout the United States have homeless shelters.(1,3, 4,5)

Footnotes

1) Shaft, Jay 30 Jul. 2003. US Homelessness at Poverty-stricken Rates skyrocket 23 Mar. 2007
http:/ / www.informationclearinghouse.info/article4305.htm

2) 2002, Dec. 11. Homeless in America. http: / www.pbs.org/newshour/extra/ features/ July – Dec02/ homeless. html

3) Who are the Homeless? Retrieved Mar 31, 2007 http:/ / www.hud. Gov/ offices/ Cpd/ Homeless/ Who. Cfm

4) Schoenherr, Neil November 2, 2001 Shelters get food via sophomores program Retrieved Mar 31, 2007 Http:/ / Record.Wustl.Edu/ Archive/ 2001/ 11 – 02 – 01/ Articles / Shelters. Html

5) Find a homeless shelter Retrieved Mar 31, 2007 Http:/ / www. Artistshelpingchildren.Org/ Shelters. Html