Who are the Homeless?
When you see someone in shabby clothes panhandling, do you assume they are homeless? Do you expect that labor workers have a home to go back to after a hard day's work? The opposite may be true.
How Many People are Homeless?
A study by HUD from surveys in January 2005, released 2/28/07, indicated 744,313 homeless in the US.  California was highest at 170,000, and Nevada had the highest percent of the population, at 0.68%. As many as 3.5 million people are homeless at some time over the course of a year, according to other federal estimates. The actual total may be far higher since many homeless don't frequent the places where surveys were taken, or don't want to be counted. I've noticed "surveys" where a group counts the obvious homeless people on the street and publishes the number, leaving readers with an impression that there isn't a problem while ignoring the other 90% who are actually homeless.
The Working Homeless
Most homeless people who are capable of working do so, though it's usually intermittent or part-time. According to a survey in Pinellas County FL, 33% worked some during the previous week. A Tallahassee FL survey indicated that 18% did day-labor work. Day-labor is usually minimum wage, day-by-day, manual labor such as digging or cleanup on construction sites or loading trucks, and usually more physically demanding that many are capable of. While being homeless most other jobs are out of reach.
Unable to Keep Meaningful Work
Of those surveyed 45% indicated some form of disability. About 29% had physical health problems, 34% mental problems, and 27% alcohol or drug problems. (For the general population 22% have some type of mental illness.)
The HUD report indicated 25% of adults were disabled. Problems like back pain prevent many from doing labor work while not qualifying for disability, or any assistance beyond food-stamp money. While less physically demanding, indoor jobs demand good personal hygiene, which is extremely difficult while homeless.
These labor workers probably have a place to live and make an adequate wage, but how would you know?
Where do they Live?
There is shelter space for only a small percentage of the homeless. Some live in transitional housing or stay temporarily with family or friends. About 44% have no housing of any kind. Some camp out in wooded areas, or unused property, making do with plastic sheeting or whatever is available. Those with a vehicle may use that to live in. The HUD report indicated 75% live in urban areas and 25% in suburban or rural areas.
Often it's a choice between camping in a hidden place or openly with a group. Either way it's for protection from those who enjoy beating and robbing the homeless. Homeless people who have been on the street for some time are aware of how dangerous it can be.
Military Service
The HUD report indicated 19% are veterans. According to the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, nearly 200,000 veterans are homeless and many young veterans who served in the mid-east are joining them. (Newsweek 2/24/07)
Individuals and Families
The HUD study indicated 66% of the homeless were single individuals while 34% were persons in families (parents and children). While women with children get high priority for assistance, still hundreds of thousands are on the street.
Age and Education
The largest age group in the HUD study, at 41%, were those age 31 to 50. Most homeless don't have a high school diploma, yet some have a college degree. An education which would qualify a person for good paying work doesn't help without housing, transportation, and other basic necessities.
The Chronic Homeless
Often those who are on the street long-term, such as over a year, are termed "chronic". Many who just lost homes and good jobs manage to soon get back to work. Many others, for various reasons, don't. Some get caught in the endless cycle of programs that maintain the homeless without addressing their problems. Labeling someone chronic is far easier than doing something about it.
Living on a Minimal Fixed Income
About 16% of those surveyed received disability payments and 3% had social security retirement.. Either may amount to only a few hundred a month. Many had to take early social security, with a considerable reduction in payments.
The price of housing has been going up at an astonishing rate. A "modest" older home in Pinellas County sells for over $150,000. A simple one bedroom apartment goes for over $600 plus over $100 per month for utilities (if you're careful). A "cheap" rental trailer is around $500/month, and if you don't use air conditoning it's intolerable. Trailer parks are being continually being leveled to make room for expensive condos or businesses. Those forced out often cannot afford other housing. The waiting list for section 8 (subsidized) housing is three or more years nationally.
In Florida, some rentals operate under motel laws which allow the landlord to evict anyone immediately, without any prior notice. Get one day behind on the rent and suddenly you're on the street.
Are Panhandlers Homeless?
Of the homeless I'm familiar with, very few will frequently panhandle. I've seen some panhandlers with crutches, while not actually using them, and ragged clothes which they change out of when they go home. Some make over a hundred dollars a day while a person doing hard labor is doing well to get $50, when they can get the work.
Once while walking to a church dinner I was confronted by an older man in ragged clothes asking for money for food. I told him about the free dinner, to which he replyed "no thanks, I'm not hungry". Just because someone looks homeless doesn't mean they are, and most real homeless people don't look like it.
Dinner at the Haven of Rest mission, Pinellas Park FL havenofrest.com While homeless go to free church dinners, it's not just the homeless. Many people on fixed incomes can't afford food after paying the rent, and could easily become homeless if the rent goes up.
Photo: Alex Pickett
Not long after this picture was taken the mission was forced to stop feeding people hot meals on the grounds that they did not have adequate parking, even though most of the people coming to the meals do not have cars.
Survey results used here may be found at:
pinellashomeless.org for Pinellas County. FL
tallahasseech.org for Tallahassee FL.
See the weblinks page for more sources.
The HUD website is hud.gov.
www.homelessamerican.com         HOMEPAGE