• Facts and Figures on Homelessness
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Homelessness: Facts and Figures

Note: These facts and figures are taken from “The Characteristics and Needs of Families Experiencing Homelessness,” published by the National Center on Family Homelessness. Download the full document, with many more facts and full documentation here.

Whether made homeless by economic hardship, domestic violence, the trauma of war, or physical or emotional challenges, these families have lost more than their homes. They’ve lost their health, safety, and the capacity to support themselves. The children are young; they have witnessed violence in their families and on the streets; they are anxious, depressed, and withdrawn. Today, they need shelter. To build a life, they need support.

How many families are homeless?

Among industrialized nations, the United States has the largest number of homeless women and children. Not since the Great Depression have so many families been without homes. The statistics below are the best estimates of the extent of homelessness, but it is important to note that they are undercounts.

  • Homeless families comprise roughly 34% of the total homeless population.
  • Approximately 1.35 million children will experience homelessness over the course of a year. In any given day, researchers estimate that more than 200,000 children have no place to live.
  • People counted in the single adult homeless population (about 2.3-3.5 million annually) are also part of families:
    • Among all homeless women, 60% have children under age 18, but only 65% of them live with at least one of these children.
    • Among all homeless men, 41% have children under age 18, but only 7% live with at least one of their own children.

Why are Families Homeless?

Family homelessness is caused by the combined effects of:

  • Lack of affordable housing: One in seven US households – 37.3 million – has severe housing cost burdens. Most of these households (78%) are in the bottom quarter of the income distribution (earning $23,000 or less annually).
  • Extreme poverty: Among the nation’s working families, 10 million are poor or nearly poor.
  • Decreasing government supports
  • The challenge of raising children alone
  • The changing demographics of the family
  • Domestic Violence
  • Fractured social supports

As the gap between housing costs and income continues to widen, more and more families are at risk of homelessness. For families with vulnerabilities or little safety net, even a seemingly minor event can trigger a catastrophic outcome and catapult a family onto the streets.

Who are homeless families?

The typical sheltered homeless family is comprised of a mother in her late twenties with two children.

  • 84% of families experiencing homelessness are female-headed.
  • Families experiencing homelessness usually have limited education.
  • 42% of children in homeless families are under age six.

What are the experiences of homeless mothers?

The impact of homelessness on mothers is profound. Many experience anger, self-blame, sadness, fear, and hopelessness. Mothers experiencing homelessness have significant histories of interpersonal violence. For them, the experience of becoming homeless is another major stressor amidst already complicated traumatic experiences.

  • Over 92% of homeless mothers have experienced severe physical and/or sexual abuse during their lifetime.
  • 63% report that this abuse was perpetrated by an intimate male partner.

What are the experiences of homeless children?

Children experience high rates of chronic and acute health problems while homeless. The constant barrage of stressful and traumatic experiences also has profound effects on their development and ability to learn.

  • Experiences of Violence
    • By age twelve, 83% of homeless children had been exposed to at least one serious violent event.
    • Almost 25% have witnessed acts of violence within their families.
    • 15% have seen their father hit their mother.
    • 11% have seen their mother abused by a male partner.
  • Physical Health
    • Children experiencing homeless:
      • Are sick four times more often than other children.
      • Are four times as many respiratory infections.
      • Have twice as many ear infections.
      • Have five times more gastrointestinal problems.
      • Are four times more likely to have asthma.
  • Mental Health
    • Children experiencing homelessness have three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems compared to non-homeless children.
    • One out of five (between three and six years of age) have emotional problems serious enough to require professional care.
  • Developmental Milestones and Academic Performance
    • Children experiencing homelessness have twice the rate of learning disabilities as non-homeless children.
    • Of children in grades three through 12 who are homeless and participated in state assessment tests, only 48% were proficient in reading and only 43% were proficient in math.
    • 36% of homeless children repeat a grade.