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Lack of affordable housing and insufficient incomes
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Here’s what national and local experts have to say about some of the most common causes of homelessness: 1. “We know there are many more people in our community who are not experiencing literal homelessness but who are unstably housed and unable to pay rent,” Renee Cavazos, Development Manager of Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County, said. Many say it’s difficult to account for every person experiencing homelessness because some are hidden, sleeping in a car or motel. The COVID-19 pandemic’s safety regulations made it more challenging to count dispersed unhoused populations. The 2% increase in 2020 was actually less than the 3% uptick reported between 20, but many homelessness advocates argue that these numbers fail to account for the true scope of the homelessness crisis in the US. And for the fourth year in a row, America’s homeless population grew. How many people are experiencing homelessness in America?Īt least 580,000 people experienced homelessness on a given day in January 2020. But more on the solutions to end homelessness later. Permanent supportive housing costs $12,800 per person per year on average. Popular alternative solutions to end homelessness, such as permanent supportive housing, focus on helping people access permanent housing and coordinated services like mental health treatment and financial assistance. Much of this money goes toward publicly funded crisis services, including jails, hospitalizations, and emergency departments. The government spends an average of $35,578 per year for every person who must endure chronic homelessness. The US government spent around $718 billion on its military in 2019 alone.Įnding homelessness is not only an achievable goal (and a moral obligation for many), but it’s also one that would likely save money in the long run.Americans spend more than $35 billion a year on gym memberships.
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