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

[Herman Munster]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/16428536.htm

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.

Counting people without permanent addresses, especially those living on the street, is an inexact process. But the new study is expected to provide a baseline to help measure progress on the issue.

"Having this data brings all of us another step closer to understanding the scope and nature of homelessness in America, and establishing this baseline is an extremely challenging task," HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson said. "Understanding homelessness is a necessary step to addressing it successfully."

HUD is preparing to release its own report on homelessness in the coming weeks, Jackson said. In the future, the department plans to issue annual reports on the number of homeless people in the U.S.

Some cities and states have done their own counts of the homeless, providing a mix of trends, said Nan Roman, president of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. For example, New York City and San Francisco have seen decreases, while the number of homeless in Washington, D.C., has increased, Roman said.

[porphyrian]

1. This is absolutely unacceptable in what is supposed to be the richest country in the world. - n/t

[Megahurtz]

12. That's because they send all the money OUT of the Country.

Nice huh?

[porphyrian]

15. If they keep it here, they have to pay taxes on it.

And they haven't yet eliminated all of their own taxes yet. Deficit be damned.

[peacebird]

2. and * is proposing we spend how much on jobs in Iraq vs how much is he spending HERE?

American people are hurting, American families are hurting, good jobs are leaving the country and they aren't coming back. Even crap jobs like Wal Mart are getting worse with their new scheduling plan - people can't work a second job to make ends meet because their schedule swaps from week to week.

I think Jim Webb said it best on NPR (or BBC) this morning - you should judge a nation by the welfare of it's POOREST citizens - not its richest. Bad paraphrase of a quote he was using - it was rush hour and I have just given up caffeine.... Herb tea doesn't snap the old synapses quite the same - sorry...

[0rganism]

3. how many are US veterans?

after putting their lives on the line for our country, that number should be damn close to 0, but it ain't...

[TexasLawyer]

9. Statistically, 1 in 3 homeless adult men

are veterans. Very, very sad.

[AZBlue]

4. K&R

I'm sorry this isn't getting more attention here today!

[Jim Warren]

5. Then double it.

At least.

HUD? C'mon really.

Fringe people are adamantly shy of being counted.

[liberal renegade]

6. they're

homeless because they wanna be.. :sarcasm:

[raysr]

7. Let's build a school in Africa. (Opra) n/t

[hashibabba]

8. There are thousands of our Iraqi soldiers who are now homeless.

Unfortunately, I can't remember where I read it, so I don't remember the exact number. Tens of thousands of Vietnam vets are homeless, too.

[blues90]

10. It has gotten worse

I recall what used to be called bums and there were few of them in the 50's and 60's , many may have chose this way of life or got there by drinking . Hobo's and such .

I never saw many homeless especially sleeping in parks and doorways and on sidewalks until the early 80's even then in los angeles there were few , now you can find them everywhere and most look like they did not fall out by choice they look like and speak like they were outsourced or had jobs recently .

This can happen to just about anyone , I am not far from this myself and trust me I never gave up or quit trying .

Once one finds themselves homeless trying to get back is next to impossible .

The US has forsaken these people and sacrificed them to save themselves and it is a crime of humanity .

[bobbolink]

11. Waaaay low estimate---just like reporting of protests!

I know that *I* wasn't counted, and I'm sure homeless.

Could I be the only one?

[Megahurtz]

13. I bet you that IS a low estimate.

Anything to play down the truth.

Besides, many Homeless are off the radar.
How could they possibly count them all?

[La_Fourmi_Rouge]

17. No kidding!

I am sure this figure is every bit as truthy as the unemployment rate.

[MountainLaurel]

18. Numbers games, as usual

I'd be interested in hearing more about how the "count" happening. Such as counting the number of visits to shelters, but not the people living on their friends' sofas for a few weeks at a time before moving to the next one. I can't help but think of the unemployment numbers, which pretty much everyone knows are bullshit.

[SammyWinstonJack]

14. That's disgusting for the richest nation on earth........................

:grr: Eat the rich!

[Jcrowley]

16. K&R