introduction to the Problem
homelessness affects everyone and everyones help is needed to fix this problem. homelessness affects everyone in our community. homeless people are our neighbors, our childrens friends family, our waiters and waitresses, our employees, co-workers, and congregation members. homelessness affects us as employers, taxpayers, concerned citizens and people of faith/compassion.
(Source - Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough County, Inc., http://www.homelessofhc.org/)
Who is homeless?
• men, women and children
• educated and uneducated
• employed and unemployed
• white, black, Hispanic
• young and old
• disabled and able-bodied
• mentally and mentally healthy
• people who struggle with addictions
and have never abused substances
The 2011 Homeless Coalition of Hillsborough Counties Homeless Count Reports:
• 17,755 men, women and children are homeless
in hillsborough county on any given night
• 7,336 are living on the street
• 10,424 are living doubled up with family/friends
• 23 percent are children
• 35 percent are female
• 44 percent are caucasian
• 55 percent are african-american
• 14 percent are hispanic/latino
• 5 percent are veterans
• 90 percent became homeless in florida
• 51 percent have never been homeless before
• 35 percent have a disability
• 65 percent have some source of income
