Homelessness

Houston Statistics

• 10,000 homeless individuals are on the streets of Houston on any given night

• 25% of these homeless individuals are minors• More than 50% of these individuals have been

diagnosed with a mental illness• More than 50% have complicated legal issues

that prevent them from accessing services and employment

• 50% report having a substance abuse problem

Common Causes of Homelessness

• Poverty (impacted by declining work opportunities, decreased public assistance, financial crisis, mounting debt)

• Lack of affordable housing (impacted by increasing rents and excessive waiting lists for public housing, eviction, etc.)

• Lack of affordable health care -Mental illness and disability• Substance abuse issues- Prison release and reentry into

society• Natural disaster• Family crisis (e.g.: death, relationship breakdown, etc.)

Volunteer at Local HomelessShelters and Soup Kitchens

• The Star of Hope (Homeless Shelter)• Loaves and Fishes (Soup Kitchen)• SEARCH Homeless Services

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2Sc2yG7ixw