Facts about Homelessness:
The main reasons that homelessness has risen dramatically in the last 25 years are due to increased poverty and reductions in affordable housing.
39% if homeless are children; 42% of these children are under the age of five years old. The average age of a homeless person is 9 years old. In Chattanooga, the average homeless person is a 14 year old boy.
Half of all homeless persons in a given year are member of homeless families. Families constitute the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.
Approximately half of homeless women and children are fleeing domestic violence.
About 1 in 3 men in the USA is a vet, but among homeless men, two out of five are veterans.
Only 16% of homeless persons have a severe and persistent mental illness. All but 5-7% of these could live successfully and happily in the community with proper supportive services.