Homelessness is a well-known and growing issue in the United States Of America,
Is crypto a good fit to solve this?
Personally, I see crypto to be a good investment for most of the peoples because it have got one of the best leverage when you know what you are doing for the most of them they on good track to become valuable asset class. I have a question here for you and that question is:
If you have got a way or ways of investing your hardly earned money for the highest return on investment with a considerable risk involve.
for you what will be the best investment ?
will you accept to spend that money for wealth ?
Yes! I will spend any thing I have to make changes into my life.
Whatever it's for Wealth, housing, food, clothes, and so on... I mean to support the cost of living... Because the most important thing for most of the people out there is to change their everyday living so at that time money become a real tool to do so but you have to have it to be able to spend it. Otherwise, you have to work for it, as you may know with nothing you can't do anything and everything.
I know for a fact that there are a bunch of services with the power to help you settle right back on your feet and to restart your life. We can talk about government agencies in charge of US household (HUD), department of social and human services, Community social services and other organization.
Those departments have got some degree of leverage to assist the people by providing Food access, Bill Support, and rental assistance to make it at least for a certain time but won't necessarily last forever because most of the time the people from the other side want to short it even when you still in need.I would like to add one thing about all of this: for a lot of people, homelessness looks like a pandemic or a kind of virus worst than Covid-19 just like people did something bad to end up in that kind of situation.
It's no fair to think that way because a lot of the people have been mislead, used and abused with even knowing what was happening and it's too easy to think that those who have got themself into such situation might be some kind of stupid people with a lack of seriousness.
But for sure, people have been mislead and drive through bad planning or agendas with the aim to worst others for decades and add to it the actual COVID-19 and other situation in place, you don't need rocket science to understand that the worst is not yet coming and the number keep on growing.
Benefits are well known here in the US, and most people at least once in their life have been thinking about having free money ready to spend for whatever want and increase you power of consumption but in you way to have any thing you need some people to handle cases administratively but it happen to observe some default based on our human nature. I mean we have emotions: So we like, we hate and so on.
Personally, I don't know how to apply for benefits without sending supportive documents, but for a lot of cases the agents at the other side where you sending them, usually think that you are sending stuff for him or her to become you and use you case for personal gain, by assuming that you were just an idiot to have sent your documents for proof and the question is what do I need to for my case to exist with do so (I mean by not sending documents for you to think it's yours) ?
I have been told that shelter for homeless formed as non-profit or501(c)(3) organization are now places for shady business, stuff like ID and record swap to drive money at the place to focus on the cause they have been built for, I mean protecting the people against homelessness by driving then through due process to settle right back on shape. Sad! but that the reality unless I have been told some wrong around it.
In such a world I don't see how homelessness will be finishing and I don't see how people will go study because even the well-known FAFSA application has got the same problem for decades, so at end nobody will study and I find student hanging out at school sleeping for decade with no education sometime because they cases have been screw up by some person with the aim to catch their student benefits money as free pocket money or kind of fraudulent donation with no basis.
For the FAFSA application, from 2018 until now I have got my part of nightmare and it keep ongoing, I can't even study even with a FAFSA approval for decade because for those all schools I have been applying I was and still an idiot sends them supporting documents for them to be getting the all benefit and to receive what they named to be free money (Grants + loan), maybe because Perhaps for then people with FAFSA are just some kind of half-man or an animal who don't deserve to study.
Just some numbers about the financial aid for low income families (or Poor) also named FAFSA ( Free Application for Federal Student Aid) :
- Federal Pell Grant: $6,495
- Federal Teach Grant: At least $4,000
- Federal Student Loan: $12,000 (With maximum $57,000 with heavy proof or record on the planning from the school, knowing that the national average for study is $25,000 a year.)
- Federal Work-Study Program (Can add $70,000 or more job income if they do your job correctly)
Housing, Food, Transportation, and Education are just the basis for anyone in this world who wants to start his life, but we still struggling out here to find out the right through this because some think to be there than other when they some time worst inside their mind or way of thinking, how can someone can be proud to say that we have built a great economy when you can’t even study or having the basis.
The benefits can be addictive for people, but sometimes it helps a lot to find a way through the struggle. Just an example, the stimulus check or economic impact payment (IP1, IP2 and IP3) throughout the US bailout and other planning has been helpful and many young men I know have started their journey as a beginner trader or investor to build an income system and not dependent on a job or salary.
There is a bunch of plans to eradicate the phenomena but those who suppose to apply the right thing went all wrong and when the people are not guided through the right path we will all get worst and unfortunately the economy will follow.
No person should be homeless if you have public structures and public policies that allow people to have homes, food, and lead a dignified life in the US. Unfortunately, homelessness statistics reveal that there is still a lot of work to be done.
At the moment, there is a lot of talk about the social and geographic disparity, the leading causes of homelessness, the current trends, and the homeless assistance that is available in North America. However, before we can do any of this, it’s extremely helpful to know the exact scope of homelessness in the US.
To find out more, just keep on reading.
How Many Homeless People Are There in America?
Homelessness is not a novelty in the US. It’s become a source of concern as early as the 19th century as urbanization projects exposed those most vulnerable. However, keeping track of the US homeless rate is only a recent process.
1. Approximately 17 people per 10,000 experience homelessness each day.
(HUD Exchange)
Perhaps not the best figure when looking at the bigger picture. However, when you translate these into overall numbers, things begin to look a lot different.
2. The number of homeless in the US is estimated at 552,830.
(Whitehouse)
With around half a million individuals living in a state of homelessness, things are not looking great. Still, on the bright side, it is a small percentage compared to the overall US population — which counts over 327.2 million.
3. Percentage-wise: 0.2% of the American population lives in a state of homelessness.
(Whitehouse)
While the low percentages don’t make the fact any less serious, in the grand scheme of things, these figures show that the US homeless problem could be managed adequately with some proper structures in place. Though, monitoring the exact number of the homeless population in the US is no easy task. Seeing how there are no fool-proof ways of identifying them, there could be even more of them on the streets.
4. Every year, roughly 13,000 homeless people die in the US.
(National Homeless)
Approximately 2.4% of homeless persons die every year — about 13,000 out of half a million. When you think about it, homelessness is a significant health risk for individuals. Having a roof above your head becomes a matter of life and death, according to homeless statistics.
5. Homeless people have an average life expectancy of just 50 years.
(National Homeless)
In a country where an increasing number of people are becoming centenarians, it is evident that homelessness is still a long way from that — if not medieval. Plus, aside from the rough living conditions, a lot of people who become homeless already struggle with various health issues.
Read more: How to Help the Homeless in the Us – 10 Practical Ways in 2022
Homeless Demographics and Disparities
Homelessness affects population groups in different ways based on their gender, age, sexual orientation, race, etc. So, let’s dive straight in and see what the stats have to say about these disparities.
6. 89.7% of homeless persons are 24 years old or more.
(Forbes)
When it comes to age, almost 9 out of 10 people who live in the streets or shelters are adults aged 24 or more. Meaning, homelessness predominantly affects adults and not children, which is a fair assessment of the situation. Indeed, housing and social policies are specifically designed to protect children, making sure they stay safe and sheltered even when they don’t have a home.
7. Stats on homeless demographics reveal: age disparities are a common occurrence on the street — only 15.6% of homeless are aged 51–61.
(National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty)
When you consider that living in a state of homelessness can put your health at risk, it’s easy to understand why less than 16% of the homeless are aged 50–60. Many adults can’t find the support they need to recover from dramatic life changes after their 50s, in terms of unemployment, health costs, or even divorce. But, more importantly, long-term homeless individuals face extreme challenges to stay healthy in their old age.
8. Only 3.2% of homeless individuals are aged 62 or more, according to statistics on homelessness.
(National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty)
Indeed, their rough living situation makes it almost impossible for homeless people to experience old age. Homeless persons tend to be older individuals who, for health or income reasons, find themselves without a home.
9. Over 70% of homeless persons are young adults below the age of 50.
(National Law Center on Homeless & Poverty)
As terrifying as it sounds, homelessness is more likely to affect people aged 24–50; hence, the homeless population is comparatively younger than the total US population. This means two things. Firstly, with the appropriate support, these individuals could rebuild their lives. Secondly, prolonged exposure to rough living conditions on the street will aggravate health problems and reduce the percentage of seniors among the homeless.
10. 20% of homeless individuals are, in fact, kids.
(HUD Exchange)
Child homelessness stats paint a tragic image. More and more children are victims of unhappy family or household circumstances. Whether they have to flee their home to escape unfair treatment or they are left in limbo when their parents can’t cope with payments; as such, homeless children account for approximately 1 in 5 homeless individuals. Thankfully, they are more likely to be placed in shelters than left on the streets.
11. 42% of street children identify as LGBT.
(Street Kids)
The youth living on the streets are more likely to be homeless after a conflict with their parents. In over 4 out of 10 cases, their sexual orientation is a detrimental factor of their homelessness. Parents who reject LGBT children tend to accentuate the phenomenon — hence the high number of the homeless LGBT population among the youth.
12. 58% of homeless individuals in Texas, California, and Florida entail youth, homelessness statistics from 2018 reveal.
Homeless youth stats reveal that a high rate of young individuals among these 3 states are, in fact, homeless. Hence, it just goes to show that these states lack sufficient facilities and policies to help young people thrive; especially those down on their luck.
13. 58,000 students identified as homeless in 2013.
(AC Online)
For an increasing number of US students, going to college is a financial challenge. Without supportive families or sufficient student loans, many don’t have a place to call home, homelessness facts reveal. There isn’t enough student aid to help everyone, which makes it hard for the most vulnerable individuals.
But if you thought that age was the only differentiating factor, you’re wrong. Homelessness is also a racial issue, as per our next stat:
14. According to the latest stats, only 48% of homeless individuals in the US are white.
(Forbes)
Almost half of all the homeless people in America are white.
15. 39.8% of homeless individuals in the US are African-American.
(Forbes)
Yes, that means that 4 out of 10 people living on the street are black. It’s a huge disparity, especially when you consider that the African-American population only represents 13% of the total US population. In other words, there are 3 times more homeless African-Americans than their overall percentage of the total population.
16. Native Americans make up 2.8% of all the homeless, homelessness statistics reveal.
(Forbes)
For comparison, Native Americans only represent roughly 1.5% of the total US population. However, they’ve almost doubled their representation when it comes to homelessness. Hence, many Native Americans fail to make a living in a country that still fails to recognize their culture, needs, and rights.
17. 13% of the homeless are of Hispanic origin.
(Forbes)
Hispanics and Latinos represent around 8% of the total US population. Their share of homelessness is significantly higher, showing that disparities are a significant problem when it comes to tackling homelessness.
18. According to homeless demographics, 61% of homeless individuals are male.
(HUD Exchange)
6 out of 10 individuals who live on the street are male. The stats reveal that men are not only more likely to be affected but they are also less likely to live in a shelter, putting them at an even greater risk.
19. 40% of all homeless men are veterans.
An army career is one of the most significant factors of homelessness in men. It’s a testimony to the failure of the government to establish supportive structures for people who join the military forces.
20. 8% of homeless veterans are women.
The current percentage of women veterans is a little over 8%, making their representation in the homeless population a one-to-one translation. While it doesn’t seem that gender discrimination is affecting this particular veteran demographic, it highlights the need for more support and programs to help these people integrate back into society once they are done with their line of duty.
Homeless Population by State
Homelessness disparities exist within the US, as some areas are more densely populated by homeless people. It’s important to understand that these stats highlight the lack of support in some areas (particularly cities) for homeless individuals.
21. The 5 areas with the most homeless are the District of Columbia, New York, Hawaii, Oregon, and California.
(Whitehouse)
The rates of homelessness are higher in those states by up to 5.8 times the average US rate of homelessness.
Indeed, the District of Columbia has a rate that is 5.8 times higher, New York is 2.8 times higher, Hawaii is 2.7 times higher, Oregon is 2 times higher, and California is 1.9 times higher.
22. According to homelessness statistics, these 4 states and DC make up 45% of the entire population of homeless in the US.
(Whitehouse)
You can find almost half of all homeless in the District of Columbia, New York, Hawaii, Oregon, and California. What is more alarming is the fact that combined, those regions only account for 20% of the total US population.
23. 47% of unsheltered homeless live in California.
(Whitehouse)
You’ll find almost half of all unsheltered homeless in one state only — California. This begs the question as to why California remains known for its Hollywood scenes when the state is struggling to manage the homelessness situation.
25. Boston, New York City, and Washington DC are cities with the most homeless.
(Whitehouse)
As a reminder, the rate is 17 per 10,000. Yet in Boston, New York City, and Washington DC, the homeless rate is well over 100 per 10,000.
26. One-fifth of sheltered homeless live in NYC.
(Whitehouse)
New York City has the highest rate of sheltered homeless people in the US. With around 20% of all sheltered individuals living in NYC, it’s fair to say that the homeless rate is exceptionally high in the Big Apple.
The Most Common Causes of Homelessness in America
A variety of factors can cause homelessness. However, some common issues can be identified:
27. 38.6% of sheltered homeless individuals are disabled.
(National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty)
Disability is one of the most commonly overlooked factors. With almost 4 out of 10 sheltered homeless people being disabled, the US needs to do some serious work on improving its support policies, homelessness statistics from 2018 reveal.
28. Only 30% of affordable housing is available to people with extremely low income.
(National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty)
The promise to provide ELI populations with affordable housing fails to meet expectations. With only 30% of availability, most ELI households are pushed into homelessness with no other way out.
29. 25% of renters have ELI.
(National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty)
Why are people homeless? Well, a quarter of the renting population struggle with extremely low income, making them more vulnerable to financial imbalance, where the ratio wages vs house price is disturbed.
30. 25% of homeless people have mental illnesses.
Mental illness is one of the most common causes of homelessness, especially among single people. With a whopping quarter of the homeless population struggling with mental health, there is no doubt that mental illness and homelessness are connected.
31. 23% of the US homeless population is chronically homeless.
Almost a quarter of homeless individuals are unaccompanied homeless with a disabling condition ranging from substance abuse to disability and mental illness. These people have been continuously homeless for at least a year or have had repeated episodes of homelessness, according to HUD’s definition.
32. Substance abuse and homeless: 38% alcohol abuse & 26% drug abuse.
Substance abuse, often driven by stress as a result of another condition, is a common occurrence among the homeless in America. Almost 4 out of 10 have alcohol issues, while a quarter of the homeless experience drug abuse. This highlights the lack of specialist support.
33. 61% rise in homeless since 2008 via foreclosures.
(National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty)
This occurs when mortgage payments can’t be met, for any reason. In essence, foreclosures have affected the homeless numbers dramatically.
34. 71% of the homeless live in central cities, homelessness statistics reveal.
Urbanization affects the most vulnerable first by increasing the cost of renting and urban life dramatically; meaning, fewer people can make ends meet.
35. There were 1.6 million homeless during the Great Recession.
As terrifying as it might sound, the US has not yet hit another recession as devastating as the Great Recession. Nevertheless, there are still lessons to be learned from the past that could help improve the homelessness situation.
36. There’s a downward trend for homelessness in the US.
(Our World In Data)
Over the past decade, the homeless situation has been steadily decreasing; there’s been a drop in veteran homelessness, chronic homelessness, and overall family and single homelessness.
What Is Homelessness Assistance and What’s It Like in the US?
Dedicated assistance for the homeless still needs improvement, but, even so, it continues to play a significant role in helping people stay safe and off the street.
37. 70% of homeless people can receive temporary beds.
(End Homelessness)
The support is available from Emergency Shelters, Transitional Housing, and Safe Haven, ensuring that 7 out of 10 homeless individuals can get a bed to sleep in a given night.
38. One promising statistic on homelessness states that permanent housing intervention has grown by 450%.
(End Homelessness)
Permanent housing interventions have experienced a 450% growth over the past 5 years, providing rapid and effective support to families and individuals in need. By keeping them sheltered and off the street, the assistance can dramatically decrease the risk of homelessness.
39. Over 65% of the homeless population in America is in homeless shelters.
(Whitehouse)
Homeless shelter stats show that, on any given day, shelters can welcome 65% of the entire population of homeless people, ensuring they can have a safe and warm place to stay at night. More often than not, shelters also help them find public housing.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, stats reveal that there are still racial, gender, age, and geographic disparities across the US. Moreover, even though the current services lack the capacity to support all the individuals, such as veterans or those with mental illnesses, the overall homeless problem has been steadily decreasing as a result of more and more effective homeless assistance in America, as recent homelessness statistics indicate.
