General Questions About Homelessness:
What are the typical characteristcs of homelessness for children and families?
Homelessness has a variety of affects on families including:
- On average, homeless families experience homelessness once or twice, for less than a year; families tend to enter and exit homelessness relatively quickly (Urban Institute)
- Homeless families are typically headed by a young single mother with 2 to 3 children, who did not finish high school or is unemployed; 42% of homeless children are age six or younger (Austin/Travis County Annual Homeless Providers Survey, Feb. 2002)
- Homeless children suffer more health problems than housed children: 38% of children in homeless shelters have asthma, middle ear infection prevalence is 50% higher than the national average, and over 60% of homeless children are under-vaccinated (Redlener & Johnson, 1999) Homelessness often precludes good nutrition; homeless children often experience physical and mental development delays
- Nearly one-fifth of homeless children repeat a grade in school and 16% are enrolled in special education classes – rates 100% and 33% higher than housed children; much of this is due to their high mobility rate (Institute for Children & Poverty, 2001)
(Source: Community Action Network)
Other questions & answers related to this topic:
What is the definition of homeless?
How do people become homeless?
How many people are homeless in the U.S.?
How can I get assistance if I am homeless or about to become homeless?
What are the causes of homelessness among youth?
How many families with children in the U.S. are homeless, and what are some approaches for serving these families?
Glossary of Search Terms in Homelessness and Chronic Homelessness
Where can I find information on best practices in preventing homelessness among ex-offenders?
Why are shelters not an adequate system for ending homelessness?