Homelessness Facts and Stats

The guests at the shelter are people who have reached a crisis in their lives; they have nowhere to go and often are too traumatized to know how to get their lives back on track.

Homelessness brings with it a loss of self-esteem and confidence. Those who come to the shelter are needy in many respects; but most importantly they need support and friendship (not blame), they need to know they are valued, and they need many kinds of help to get their lives together.

While there are many reasons why a person may become homeless, the most common include:

•  Job loss
•  Eviction
•  Domestic issues
•  The break-up of a relationship
•  Lack of affordable housing
•  Substance abuse
•  Physical and mental health issues

Whatever the cause, the difficulty of returning to a normal life seems insurmountable.

Recent stats* show the following about the homeless:

60% are male; 40% are female
48% are between the ages of 26 and 44
62% are minorities
44% live in shelters
15% live on the street

*Stats provided by Health Care for the Homeless at Mercy Hospital