Homeless Families with Children
One of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population is families with children. A
2005 study revealed that of the counted homeless population there were 98,452 homeless
families, making up 41% of the entire homeless population (Homelessness Counts, 2007).
Research indicates that families, single mothers, and children make up the largest group of
people who are homeless in rural areas (Vissing, 1996). Approximately 924,000 children are
homeless, and in 1995, 4.2% of children under the age of one year were homeless (Urban
Institute, 2000; Culhane & Metraux, 1999). Homeless families are most commonly headed by
single mothers in their late 20s with approximately two children (Rog & Buckner, 2007).
Homeless families often double up with other families. This causes them to be exempt from the
federal definition of chronic homelessness, which states that a chronically homeless person is
one who is on the streets or in a shelter (The Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress,
2007). Therefore, many homeless families are prevented from receiving assistance.
Recent evidence confirms that homelessness among families is increasing. Requests for assisted
housing by low-income families and individuals increased in 86 percent of the cities during the
past year. The same study found the requests increased by an average of 5% in 2005 (U.S.
Conference of Mayors, 2005). While the average number of emergency shelter beds for
homeless families with children increased by 8% in 2005, an average of 32% of requests for
shelter by homeless families were denied in 2005 due to lack ofresources. Poverty and the lack of
affordable housing are the principal causes of family homelessness. While the number of poor people decreased
every year between 1993 and 2000, in recent years the number and percentage of poor people has increased. |
