Assistance for the Homeless

The numbers for people experiencing homelessness vary depending on the source you choose. The Housing and Urban Development has stated there were 633,782 homeless people, as of their January 2012 count, however, others have the number as high as 1.6 million or close to one in every 200 Americans. There seems to be a consensus that the numbers have been in decline since the beginning of the century, but when there are claims that one in 50 children will experience homelessness each year, there is a definite need to address the situation.

“Homelessness is the condition of people without a regular dwelling. People who are homeless are most often unable to acquire and maintain regular, safe, secure and adequate housing, or lack “fixed, regular, and adequate night-time residence.”The legal definition of homeless varies from country to country, or among different jurisdictions in the same country or region. The term homeless may also include people whose primary night-time residence is in a homeless shelter, a warming center, a domestic violence shelter, a vehicle (including recreational vehicles and campers), squatting, cardboard boxes, a tent, tarpaulins, or other ad hoc housing situations”. Wikipedia

The following information is provided for people who find themselves without housing – temporarily or otherwise. All 50 states provide shelters to assist people in need.

>Homeless Shelterslinks to homeless shelter locations by state can be found here.