Homelessness in the United States

Paper Summary:

Homelessness remains one of America's most complicated and important social issues and is a devastating experience for families. It disrupts virtually every aspect of family life, damaging the physical and emotional health of family members interfering with children's education and development and frequently resulting in the separation of family members. This paper provides an overview of causes and consequences of homelessness among three of the largest homeless population in the United States; families with children, the mentally ill and veterans.

From the Paper:

"In the last 15 years, the United States has seen a tremendous growth in the percentage of the homeless population. One of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population is families with children. Families with children constitute approximately 40% of people who become homeless. A survey of 30 U.S. cities found that in 1998, children accounted for 25% of the homeless population. Families have become much more diverse than the conventional nuclear family. The make up of homeless people has also become more diverse and now includes a larger proportion of homeless families. Families have changed due to the decline in marriages, increased births outside marriage, lower birth rates, and higher rates of divorce and relationship breakdown. Homeless families include single parent families, headed mainly by women, couples with children and couples without children. The U.S. Census indicates that families, single mothers, and children make up the largest group of people who are homeless in rural areas."

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