Homeless in America

Below you can find but a small portion of the December 2004 Conference of Mayor’s Report (representing 1139 cities in America with populations greater than 30,000), taken by surveys in 27 large cities. Go here to get the full report.

Many, if not most, families in America are but one paycheck, or perhaps 2 or 3, away from becoming homeless or destitute. The problems of hunger and homelessness have done nothing but increase over the past 5 years, and many cities, and shelter programs, are finding it more and more difficult to cope with the increased demand.

In America we seem to have an economic system that, while providing outrageous benefits to some, also requires that many others struggle along as second class, and second rate citizens, trying to raise families, or take care of themselves, on wages not sufficient to support the domestic dignity one might feel that being fully employed, for instance, might allow. Thus has it ever been, and thus will it always be unless and until those on the bottom start making enough noise to be heard. Which is damn tough to do when you are simply worn out and exhausted by trying to cope. You might even wonder if that were not part of the plan.

Anyway, for it’s worth, please find a few excerpts from the report below.




Summary
To assess the status of hunger and homelessness in America’s cities during 2004, The
U.S. Conference of Mayors surveyed 27 major cities whose mayors were members of its Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. The survey sought information and estimates from each city on 1) the demand for emergency food assistance and emergency shelter and the capacity of local agencies to meet that demand; 2) the causes of hunger and homelessness and the demographics of the populations experiencing these problems; 3) exemplary programs or efforts in the cities to respond to hunger and homelessness; 4) the availability of affordable housing for low income people; and 5) the outlook for the future and the impact of the economy on hunger and homelessness. Among the findings of the 27-city survey:

Hunger
Officials in the survey cities estimate that during the past year requests for emergency
food assistance increased by an average of 14 percent, with 96 percent of the cities
registering an increase. Requests for food assistance by families with children increased
by an average of 13 percent. Requests for emergency food assistance by elderly persons
increased by an average of 12 percent during the last year, with 72 percent of the cities
reporting an increase.

On average, 20 percent of the requests for emergency food assistance are estimated to
have gone unmet during the last year. For families alone, 17 percent of the requests for
assistance are estimated to have gone unmet. In 48 percent of the cities, emergency food
assistance facilities may have to turn away people in need due to lack of resources.

Fifty-six percent of the people requesting emergency food assistance were members of
families – children and their parents. Thirty-four percent of the adults requesting food
assistance were employed.

The overall level of resources available to emergency food assistance facilities increased
by 18 percent during the last year in the cities registering an increase. Forty-four percent
of the survey cities reported that emergency food assistance facilities are able to provide
an adequate quantity of food. Sixty-seven percent of the cities’ emergency food
assistance facilities have had to decrease the number of bags of food provided and/or the
number of times people can receive food. Of these cities, 63 percent have had to increase
the limit of food provided. Eighty-one percent of the survey cities reported that the food
provided is nutritionally balanced.

In 100 percent of the cities, families and individuals relied on emergency food assistance
facilities both in emergencies and as a steady source of food over long periods of time.

Unemployment and other employment-related problems lead the list of causes of hunger
identified by the city officials. Other causes cited, in order of frequency, include low-
paying jobs, high housing costs, poverty or lack of income, medical or health costs,
substance abuse, high utility costs, mental health problems, homelessness, reduced public
benefits and high childcare costs.

Homelessness
During the past year, requests for emergency shelter increased in the survey cities by an
average of 6 percent, with 70 percent of the cities registering an increase. Requests for
shelter by homeless families alone increased by 7 percent, with 78 percent of the cities
reporting an increase.

An average of 23 percent of the requests for emergency shelter by homeless people
overall and 32 percent of the requests by homeless families alone are estimated to have
gone unmet during the last year. In 81 percent of the cities, emergency shelters may have
to turn away homeless families due to lack of resources; in 81 percent they may also have
to turn away other homeless people.

People remain homeless an average of eight months in the survey cities. Forty-six
percent of the cities said that the length of time people were homeless increased during
the last year.

Lack of affordable housing leads the list of causes of homelessness identified by the city
officials. Other causes cited, in order of frequency, include mental illness and the lack of
needed services, substance abuse and the lack of needed services, low-paying jobs,
unemployment, domestic violence, poverty, and prisoner re-entry.

Officials estimate that, on average, single men comprise of 41 percent of the homeless
population, families with children-40 percent, single women-14 percent and
unaccompanied youth- five percent. The homeless population is estimated to be 49
percent African-American, 35 percent white, 13 percent Hispanic, two percent Native
American and one percent Asian. An average of 23 percent of homeless people in the
cities are considered mentally ill; 30 percent are substance abusers; 17 percent are
employed; and 10 percent are veterans.

In 56 percent of the cities, families may have to break up in order to be sheltered. In 52
percent of the cities families may have to spend their daytime hours outside of the shelter
they use at night.

Housing
Requests for assisted housing by low- income families and individuals increased in 68
percent of the cities during the last year. Thirty-two percent of eligible low-income
households are currently served by assisted housing programs. City officials estimate
that low- income households spend an average of 45 percent of their income on housing.

Applicants must wait an average of 20 months for public housing in the survey cities.
The wait for Section 8 certificates is 30 months, and for Section 8 Vouchers it’s 35
months. Fifty- nine percent of the cities have stopped accepting applications for at least
one assisted housing program due to the excessive length of the waiting list.

The Outlook
Officials in 88 percent of the responding cities expect requests for emergency food
assistance to increase during 2005. Eighty- four percent expect that requests for
emergency food assistance by families with children will increase during 2005. Officials
in 88 percent of the cities expect that requests for emergency shelter will increase next
year. Seventy-eight percent expect that requests by homeless families will increase.

Even with an improving economy, city officials believe that economic conditions will
continue to have a negative impact on the problem of hunger and homelessness.