Borgen Project- Homeless in America

Used and Abused
The National Coalition for Homeless
Veterans estimates that on any given
night, 299,321 veterans are homeless.

Approximately 33% of homeless
men are veterans, although
veterans comprise only 23% of the
general adult male population.

Homeless in America Quick Facts

Children represent 39% of
the homeless population.

Approximately 23% of the
single adult homeless
population suffers from
some form of severe and
persistent mental illness
(U.S. Conference of
Mayors, 2003).

The Cause
Two trends are largely responsible
for the rise in homelessness in
recent years: a growing shortage
of affordable rental housing and a
simultaneous increase in poverty.

Who's the Leader?
In 1970, the world's nations
agreed to provide 0.7
percent of their gross
national income for
development assistance. The
only countries who have met
this pledge?

Denmark, Luxembourg,
the Netherlands, Norway
and Sweden.

Countries that have
committed to reaching the
target by 2015 - Belgium,
Finland, France, Ireland,
Spain and Britain.

In most states a minimum-wage
worker would have to work 89
hours each week to afford a
two-bedroom apartment at 30% of
his or her income, which is the
federal definition of affordable
housing (National Low Income
Housing Coalition).

Adopt a Minefield
Vietnam Veterans of America
National Veterans LSP
Globalissues.org
UNDP
World Health Organization
UN-Habitat
UNHCHR
DFID
World Bank
UNFPA
Choike
Make Poverty History
U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness

In most cases, homelessness
is a temporary condition.

Urban Institute study which states
that about 3.5 million people, 1.35
million of them children, are likely
to experience homelessness in a
given year.

Hidden Problem
A national study of formerly
homeless people found that
60% stayed in vehicles while
they were homeless.

Due to lack of resources,
52% of emergency
shelter requests from
families are denied.