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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
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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