"Surveys conducted over the past two decades have demonstrated that homeless Americans are exceptionally diverse and include representatives from all segments of society—the old and the young; men and women; single people and families; city dwellers and rural residents; whites and people of color; and able-bodied workers and people with serious health problems." Source: Special Populations of Homeless Americans by Robert Rosenheck, M.D., Ellen Bassuk, M.D., Amy Salomon, Ph.D.
United States Homeless Statistics:
- 3.5 million people (1.35 million of which are children) will experience homelessness in a given year.
- Children under the age of 18 account for 39% of the homeless population. 42% of these are under the age of 5.
- 43% of the homeless population are women; 40% of these women are unaccompanied. 22% of homeless women claim domestic abuse as reason for homelessness. 25% of these claim to have been abused within the past year.
- Families with children comprise 33% of the homeless population.
- Vets constitute 40% of the homeless population.
- 1 in every 5 homeless persons has a severe or persistent mental illness.
- 25% of the homeless nationwide are employed.
What are we doing as a community?:
To help address the growing need for shelter for Haywood County's homeless population, the Community Kitchen in Canton, The Waynesville Open Door, together with the Haywood Coalition, and New Covenant Church have teamed up to help provide our homeless with a warm, safe, shelter at night through March.
What can you do?: