Report to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on the Homeless and Emergency Shelters

摘要

This report provides information on three basic issues concerning homelessness: (1) the extent of homelessness nationwide and by region, (2) a profile of the homeless, and (3) the extent of shelter capacity and other programs for the homeless. Data and information were drawn from such sources as 2 national surveys, over 30 local studies, 10 site visits, and various discussions with national and State groups as well as Federal agencies. For the purposes of the study, the homeless are counted as those whose nighttime residences are in public or private emergency shelters or in public or private space not designed for shelter. Using four approaches to estimating the national number of homeless persons, the range of estimates was found to be 192,000 to 586,000. The most reliable range appears to be 250,000 to 350,000 on an average night in December 1983 or January 1984. The West has the highest share of the Nation's homeless, and the greatest majority are found in large metropolitan areas. While homeless persons were found to be a heterogenous group, they can be clustered in three basic categories: people with chronic disabilities (including alcohol and drug addiction), people who have experienced severe personal crises, and those who have suffered from adverse economic conditions. The private (mostly nonprofit) sector operates most of the shelters for the homeless, provides almost two - thirds of the financing for shelters, volunteers a large amount of staffing labor, and makes in - kind donations of food and supplies. Operations are often subsidized by public funding. Local, State, and Federal programs or monies provide subsidies for the homeless. The appendixes contain sampling and estimation procedures and an annotated bibliography of 99 reports on the homeless. Tabular data are included.