United States Homeless Statistics
From the National Coalition for the Homeless: Poverty, Urban Institute and specifically the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers, draw their estimates from a study of service providers across the country at two different times of the year in 1996.
They found that, on a given night in October, 444,000 people (in 346,000 households) experienced homelessness - which translates to 6.3% of the population of people living in poverty. On a given night in February, 842,000 (in 637,000 households) experienced homelessness - which translates to almost 10% of the population of people living in poverty.
Converting these estimates into an annual projection, the numbers that emerge are 2.3 million people (based on the October estimate) and 3.5 million people (based on the February estimate).This translates to approximately 1% of the U.S. population experiencing homelessness each year, 38% (October) to 39% (February) of them being children (Urban Institute 2000).
It is also important to note that this study was based on a national survey of service providers. Since not all people experiencing homelessness utilize service providers, the actual numbers of people experiencing homelessness are likely higher than those found in the study, Thus, we are estimating on the high end of the study's numbers: 3.5 million people, 39% of which are children(Urban Institute 2000).
I know, it's nothing new. All theose people didn't become homeless last night. But when I saw the movie trailer for "The Pursuit of Happiness" with Will Smith the other day it reminded me...In a big way. (check out the movie trailer here @ http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepursuitofhappyness/clipspage/index.php?clip=psp_trailer) I was in tears by the time the trailer was over. The thought of being a father and not being able to provide for your child is horrifying. All of those whys. Why daddy? Why don't we have a house like the rest of the kids? Those kinds of questions would be really hard to take, and even harder to answer.
We aren't rich by any means, but we have what we need and some. Sure there have been plenty of times when we don't have quite enough, but we are blessed with the opportunity to make more. In light of all this I decided that we are going to start a new Stockton family tradition. After the kids open their presents they will choose one of the toys they received for Christmas, and that toy will be given to Toys for Tots, or whatever orginization is heading up a toy drive. I know its not a whole lot, but I think anything is better than nothing...Which is exactly what they have.
From the National Coalition for the Homeless: Poverty, Urban Institute and specifically the National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers, draw their estimates from a study of service providers across the country at two different times of the year in 1996.
They found that, on a given night in October, 444,000 people (in 346,000 households) experienced homelessness - which translates to 6.3% of the population of people living in poverty. On a given night in February, 842,000 (in 637,000 households) experienced homelessness - which translates to almost 10% of the population of people living in poverty.
Converting these estimates into an annual projection, the numbers that emerge are 2.3 million people (based on the October estimate) and 3.5 million people (based on the February estimate).This translates to approximately 1% of the U.S. population experiencing homelessness each year, 38% (October) to 39% (February) of them being children (Urban Institute 2000).
It is also important to note that this study was based on a national survey of service providers. Since not all people experiencing homelessness utilize service providers, the actual numbers of people experiencing homelessness are likely higher than those found in the study, Thus, we are estimating on the high end of the study's numbers: 3.5 million people, 39% of which are children(Urban Institute 2000).
I know, it's nothing new. All theose people didn't become homeless last night. But when I saw the movie trailer for "The Pursuit of Happiness" with Will Smith the other day it reminded me...In a big way. (check out the movie trailer here @ http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/thepursuitofhappyness/clipspage/index.php?clip=psp_trailer) I was in tears by the time the trailer was over. The thought of being a father and not being able to provide for your child is horrifying. All of those whys. Why daddy? Why don't we have a house like the rest of the kids? Those kinds of questions would be really hard to take, and even harder to answer.
We aren't rich by any means, but we have what we need and some. Sure there have been plenty of times when we don't have quite enough, but we are blessed with the opportunity to make more. In light of all this I decided that we are going to start a new Stockton family tradition. After the kids open their presents they will choose one of the toys they received for Christmas, and that toy will be given to Toys for Tots, or whatever orginization is heading up a toy drive. I know its not a whole lot, but I think anything is better than nothing...Which is exactly what they have.
Comments