Study: 744,000 homeless in U.S. in 2005

[Kadie]

Study: 744,000 homeless in U.S. in 2005
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, Associated Press Writer
6 minutes ago


WASHINGTON - There were 744,000 homeless people in the United States in 2005, according to the first national estimate in a decade.

A little more than half were living in shelters, and nearly a quarter were chronically homeless, according to the report Wednesday by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, an advocacy group.

A majority of the homeless were single adults, but about 41 percent were in families, the report said.

The group compiled data collected by the Department of Housing and Urban Development from service providers throughout the country. It is the first national study on the number of homeless people since 1996. That study came up with a wide range for America's homeless population: between 444,000 and 842,000.

snip...
"In the last 12 to 18 months, the homeless population has essentially exploded in Philadelphia," said Marsha Cohen, executive director of the Homeless Advocacy Project, which provides free legal services to the homeless in Philadelphia. "We are seeing big increases in singles and families, both on the street and attempting to enter the homeless system."

"It's a whole influx of new people, and that's the really scary part," Cohen said.

more...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070110/ap_on_go_ot/homeless_2

[Monkeyman]

1. I knew this number was huge with 200,000 homeless veterans

[SoCalDem]

2. There is probably twice to three times that number

who are "under-housed" or on the verge of being homeless.

there are some at the "top" of the pyramid who are small families rattling around in McMansions, but how many are there below that strata who are cramming many people into small falling-apart housing?

or families who, a generation ago, could have afforded a home of their own, but are now still trapped in apartment/rental housing?

In the 60's and early 70's a single earner (usually Dad) with only a high school diploma, could support a family (with kids & a Mom who could stay home if she wanted) ..own a house, buy a relatively new or new car, take vacations and save for the kids' college..

try that now :)