Facts and Statistics

How many people are homeless? 

Age- Children under18 make up 27% of the homeless population; People between the ages of 3 and 50 makeup 51% of the homeless population; people between the ages of 55and 60 account for 2.5-194%

Gender- Single adults who are homeless are most likely to be men they account for 45% of the single adults who are homeless; single women make up 14%

Families with children are now the fastest growing group of the homeless population, they account for about 40% of the people who become homeless each year. 38% of the people already homeless are families with children.

Ethnicity- African American - 57%; Caucasian - 30%; Hispanic - 10%; Native American - 2%; Asian - 1%

50% of America's homeless women and children are running from domestic abuse.

Veterans - Of all homeless men 40% of them have served in the armed forces. Only 34% of the total adult male population has served in the armed forces 19% of the urban homeless population are veterans.

Mental Illness - 20-25% of the single adult homeless population mentally ill. Only 5-7% of the mentally ill homeless need to be institutionalized.

The entire homeless population does not fit one description although, they do have shared needs. These need include affordable housing, adequate income and health care, some need psychological help and drug treatment. Most of all they need the help of those around them who are stable and fortunate enough to help.

In  1996, the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ took a survey of homelessness in twenty-nine cities.  The results showed that children under the age of eighteen were 27% of the urban homeless population.  In 1987, the Urban Institute found that 51% of the homeless population were from thirty-five to fifty years old.  Percentages of homeless people from fifty-five to sixty years old were 2.5% to 19.4%.

The Conference of Mayors’ in 1996, found that single men and women make up 45% and 14% of the homeless population, respectively.