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Homeless Subgroups
Single adults comprise about half of the population, the majority being male. Thirty-seven percent of single adults have been homeless three or more times as adults, and over one-third homeless for over 25 months. Twenty-three percent are veterans. More than 20% experienced homelessness as children.
Homeless single adults face problems of street violence, hunger, illness, social isolation, and challenging outdoor living in extreme cold or heat without enough protection or access to showers and bathroom facilities. Traumatic stress usually follows, including mental illness and addictions. Nearly 70% report using alcohol and/or drugs, or having had mental problems in the past 30 days. Many have poor education and job skills.
From "575,000 to 1.6 million unaccompanied youth(s) are on the street and in shelters annually in the United States," sometimes called runaways. They're young, unattached to families, and aged 16 - 22. Family conflicts and violence, including child abuse, drove them away. From 20 - 40% are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, "questioned, intersex, or two-spirited, and their coming out often leads to being kicked out of their homes or physically assaulted." Vulnerable and on their own, they're seven times more likely to become violent crime victims.
Families with children comprise 34% of the homeless, 84% female-headed. The average single mother is poorly educated, in her late twenties with two young children. Nearly all have histories of severe violence. Over one-third have post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), triple the general population rate. More than half experience depression, and 85% report a previous depressive episode.
Around 41% resort to alcohol and/or drugs, twice the general population rate. They're also affected by health problems. Over one-third have chronic asthma, bronchitis, and/or hypertension. Their children suffer as a result.
Rating the States
Each got a score from one through 50 based on a composite performance on:
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