Who Are The Homeless
Who Are The Homeless
In 2014, California retained the highest population of homeless in the country. There are people living
in the streets of every city in California, but who are these homeless people that we consistently see on
the streets, in the parks, under bridges. and at the shelters?
According to Health centers funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
A (homeless individual) is defined in section 330(h)(5)(A) as “an individual who lacks housing
(without regard to whether the individual is a member of a family), including an individual
whose primary residence during the night is a supervised public or private facility (e.g., shelters) that provides temporary living accommodations, and an individual who is a resident in
transitional housing.” A homeless person is an individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets; stay in a shelter, mission, single room occupancy facilities, abandoned
building or vehicle; or in any other unstable or non-permanent situation. [Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C., 254b)].
Homeless people are of all ages, under 18 to elderly persons, men and women , different ethnicity, and even families. These homeless have been victims of domestic violence, veterans of wars, persons with mental illness, persons suffering from addiction disorders, Runaways from broken homes and employment victims whose declining wages put housing out of reach for many.30% of the homeless are from domestic violence.
Demographics of homeless
Homelessness
California accounted for 20 percent (113,952 people) of the nations homeless population in 2014.
Homeless Individuals
California accounted for 25 percent (90,765 people) of the nations homeless individuals population
Homeless Families
California accounted for 11 percent (23,187 people) of the nations homeless families population in
2014. California had the largest number of people in families with chronic patterns of homelessness 2,862 people or 12 % of the Homeless Family Population.
Unaccompanied homeless Children and Youth
California accounted for 30 percent (13,709 people) of the nations Unaccompanied homeless Children and Youth population in 2014. Unaccompanied homeless children under 18 years of age (1,782 people) unaccompanied homeless youth 18 to 24 years of age(11,927 people).
Homeless Veterans
California accounted for 24 percent (12,096 people) of the nations homeless Veterans population in 2014. California has one of the highest rates in the nation for unsheltered Veterans 63.2%.
Chronically Homeless people
California accounted for 34 percent (28,200 people) of the nations chronically homeless population in 2014.
John Albert Rogers
An interview with a Vietnam veteran which accounts for 24% of our nations homeless veterans sheds light on a homeless veterans plight.Vietnam War Veteran John Albert Rogers one of two children from a low income family. describes how his brother was drafted into the army and subsequently killed in action. This led john to enlist in the army and fight in Vietnam. He became a sniper and amassed numerous kills while serving in Vietnam. John stated that ''I was so scared of noises back then, they kept me in the VA Hospital. 35 days in the psychiatric ward there''. John a kind soft spoken man telling his story leaves you wondering how much more can the VA do for our veterans.
The VA’s first large-scale study of homeless veterans, released in 2012, found that over half of the newly homeless diagnosed with mental disorders had received that diagnosis before homelessness. The VA’s Inspector General (IG) said, “Presence of mental disorders (substance-related disorders and/or mental illness) is the strongest predictor of becoming homeless after discharge from active duty.”
Today's homeless come from all ways of life rich, poor, black, white, young, old, man or women. it does not matter what matters is what are we to do?
Sources
National Coalition for the Homeless
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment
Report (AHAR) to Congress October 2014
Brain line military
Shad Meshad, Brain Injury Journey magazine
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