Another big cause of homelessness is people not having health care. They could have a job, but not given the benefit of free health care, so therefore if a poor family or individual were to be seriously ill they would not have enough money to pay for their health as well as to have a home. A high percentage of homeless people also are known to have a mental illness which could make it difficult to even impossible for them to get a job. As many as 3.5 million people in the United States has been reported of experiencing homelessness in a given year, even though most were temporarily. Some statistics of reported homeless Americans show 40% are families with children—the fastest growing segment, 41% are single males, 14% are single females, 5% are minors unaccompanied by adults, 49%
The information collected provides a snapshot of unduplicated sheltered and unsheltered individuals and families experiencing homelessness as defined by HUD. On Wednesday, January 27th the Homeless Prevention Coalition of Guilford County conducted Guilford County’s Annual Point in Time Count. The survey included only individuals willing to answer questions about their living status within a single 24 hour time period, every individual or family experiencing homelessness are not included as some refuse to participate, avoid the survey, or are not found within the 24 hour time period. The 2010 Point in Time Count reveals that 1,064 individuals experience homelessness on any given night and 131 of those individuals are experiencing chronic homelessness. This year snap shot shows an increase in homeless veterans, domestic violence victims, and homeless children, with a 55% increase in the number of Veterans living on the street or in emergency shelters, a 31% increase in the number of domestic violence victims who are experiencing homelessness (with 40% of those victims being male), and an 8% rise in the number of homeless children.
The city is bracing for a 10 percent increase in shelter need this winter, according to the Department of Human Services. The city has a total of 257 units for homeless families, including the facility at D.C. General. Not having more shelter capacity this winter is a "troubling concern," said Wells, whose human services committee oversees services for the homeless (http://www.washingtonpost.com). I believe homelessness is not being taken seriously as it should be, especially if the percentage of it is rising. I even feel that it’s overlooked or put on hold until felt like being addressed.
Homelessness is defined as “having no home or permanent place of residence” according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary. Homelessness is a problem that millions of American’s face each year including, families, children, veterans, mentally ill, and the elderly. Homelessness can be classified as transitional, episodic, or chronic. Transitional homelessness is temporary, and people are able to obtain housing after rendering services. Episodic homelessness refers to persons that have recurring housing problems.
With the current recession, it is a very real possibility that more than 1.5 million will be forced into homelessness in the next two years alone (PBS: Public Broadcasting Services, 2011). Imagine, that number of people do not have a permanent and safe home in which to live. Why? Why do we have so many homeless in one of the wealthiest countries in the world? Clearly homelessness is a problem in America.
According to a study by the U.S. Department of housing and Urban Development (HUD), there were 671,888 homeless people in the United States as of January 2007, including sheltered and unsheltered population. HUD defines homelessness as lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The number of homeless fluctuates with the health of the economy (2011). Homelessness raises the susceptibility to disaster events. Some of the barriers that may prevent these groups from obtaining needed services are: The lack of health insurance, a home, financial problem, mental illness and physical inability to do for themselves.
Homeless are Vulnerable Population Robin C. Cameron NUR/440 August 2, 2010 Pauline Rodger Homeless are Vulnerable Population It is estimated that 13.5 million people in the United States have been homeless at point to another. Homeless population is susceptible for poor health and overcrowded shelters, which makes this population at higher risk to communicable diseases. The homeless with pre-existing medical condition not medical treated will have a higher risk of complication. Therefore, this creates a fault line in our health care system for us to help the homeless population (O'Connell, Oppenheimer, Judge, Taube, Blanchfield, Swain, & Koh, 2010). To help the homeless population we will review what constitutes a vulnerable population along with looking at what barriers this population may have to prevent them from seeking help.
1 in 4 people who experience homelessness on any given night are under the age of 18"[iii]. Newspapers report that the charities which provide support services to the homeless are helping more and more families being plunged into homelessness. Mums and Dads with school aged children, or younger, who used to work and pay all their bills have lost their jobs in tough economic times. The rising cost of living can take the roof from over their heads and they too are left wondering where to go next. Homelessness is not a simple problem.
If I were homeless I would want people to know that every night I would wonder if I will have food tonight, or if I’ll have a structure over my head, will I wake up or will I die tonight. Well that happens every day and no one cares or doesn’t bother. It is going on and will still go on forever unless our generation does something about it. To prove this there are three to four million people in the U.S.A. who are homeless, maybe more because all people cannot be counted. Forty-five percent are single men, fourteen percent are single woman, forty percent are families, thirty-three percent are veterans who have served are country and are known homeless, thirty three present are children who under the age of 18.
Homelessness and HIV is an issue that can sometimes go hand in hand, but does homelessness lead to a person getting HIV or does HIV lead to a person becoming homeless? The National Alliance to End Homelessness estimates that 3.4% of homeless people were HIV positive in 2006. Only 0.4% of the general population (adults and adolescents) were infected during the same time in 2006. In 2007 HIV/AIDS deaths were more prevalent in the homeless population than it was in 2006. (National coalation for the homeless, 2012) HIV/AIDS and homelessness are intricately related.