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What is homelessness?
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Date : 11/26/2007
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You are homeless if you do not have a fixed, permanent nighttime residence. Our count includes those who sleep in shelters, transitional housing, parks, encampments, on sidewalks, or doubled-up in apartments or trailers with relatives or friends.
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How many people are homeless in Pinellas County?
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Date : 11/27/2007
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According to the results of the annual count and survey of homeless people in 2007, there are approximately 5,195 homeless men, women and children in Pinellas County. This is a 10.5% increase over 2006. Of this amount, 18.5% are children. Here are some other statistics from the 2007 count and survey:
- 72% male and 28% female
- 7.7% are over the age of 60
- Between 65-70 % of the ‘street homeless’ have mental health and/or substance abuse
problems
- 30% have been homeless for 3 months or less
- 24% are veterans
- Lack of affordable housing is a major unmet need for 80% – THE major barrier for more than 55%
- 48.3% are ‘chronic’ homeless
- 44.7% of homeless adults have a disabling condition
34.4% = Mental health/emotional
29.1% = Physical/medical
27.5% = Alcohol/drugs
14.7% = Both mental health & alcohol/drugs
1.7% = HIV/AIDS
- 39% work full or part-time
- 47.3% have a permanent source of income from work, disability or retirement
- 3% choose not to work
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Where do the homeless sleep at night?
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Date : 11/26/2007
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Those homeless people who are not sleeping in shelters, transitional housing or doubled-up with friends and family are considered unsheltered, and you will find them sleeping in a variety of unsuitable locations such as: sidewalks, bus stops, doorways, roof tops, tents, under bridges, along railroad tracks and the Pinellas Trail, in motor vehicles, and in abandoned buildings and trailers.
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How many emergency shelter beds are in the continuum of care?
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Date : 11/26/2007
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In Pinellas County, there are 559 emergency shelter beds for individuals and families. This number is far short of the estimated 1,221 chronically homeless persons living on the streets without shelter.
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What could happen if the number of homeless people goes up?
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Date : 11/27/2007
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An increased number of homeless people would place more demands on the limited number of shelter beds currently available in our County. As a result, these County residents may end up sleeping in the streets, doubled-up with friends or relatives or residing in unsafe structures not suitable for habitation.
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What are the major causes of homeless? What causes a child to become homeless?
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Date : 11/27/2007
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The causes of homelessness are many and varied and complicated. However, the major causes of homelessness include: lack of affordable housing, evictions, drug and/or alcohol abuse, mental health problems, and loss of employment or inadequate wages from employment. Children most often become homeless when their parents or guardians become homeless. Additionally, there are a number of children who become homeless after “aging out” of foster care and have no where to go, and little education and life skills. Some children become homeless after running away from home or after being abducted from their homes by corrupt adults participating in human trafficking and using children for various illegal practices such as prostitution and commercial sex trade.
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Are all of the homeless in Pinellas County from Pinellas County?
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Date : 11/27/2007
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Statistics show that 75% of the homeless surveyed stated they have lived in Pinellas County one year or more, and 50% lived here five years or more.
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How do unsheltered homeless people heat (cook) their food?
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Date : 5/19/2008
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In most instances, homeless people eat food prepared at soup kitchens and drop-in centers. Homeless people living in encampments may cook their food, but it is a dangerous, unhealthy practice.
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Where can homeless people get prepared meals?
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Date : 11/27/2007
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Many homeless people go to soup kitchens and drop-in centers in order to eat. For instance, in St. Petersburg, many homeless people go to ASAP Homeless Services for breakfast and to St. Vincent de Paul for dinner.
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How do the homeless get medical care?
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Date : 11/27/2007
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Medical care is available to those homeless people who are elderly or veterans. However, the vast majority of homeless adults are uninsured and they often use hospital emergency rooms as their primary source of medical care, which costs taxpayers lots of money each year. Some organizations have worked together to conduct one-day medical camps called Project Homeless Connect, in which doctors and nurses, along with social service agency representatives, volunteer their time to bring medical and other services to homeless people without charge.
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What is the educational level of those who are experiencing homelessness?
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Date : 11/27/2007
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Of the 1,427 homeless people who answered this question in last year’s survey, 64.1% of respondents had no higher than a high school diploma or GED. While there is not a direct causal link between level of education and probability of homelessness, it is true the more education or skill training a person has, the greater possibility of earning a substantial enough wage or salary to cover housing and other costs of living. However, as the statistics suggest, there are people with college degrees and vocational training who are homeless, thus indicating other causes for homelessness such as drug or alcohol addiction, lack of a support system (family, friends, etc.), temporary loss of employment, inappropriate response to grief or other life change, catastrophe (hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.), and health issues. Here is the educational level breakdown:
· Grade school 4.7%
· Some high school 22.5%
· High school or GED 33.6%
· Some college 17.8%
· College degree 9.2%
· Voc. or trade school 7.1%
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Where do the homeless children go to school?
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Date : 11/27/2007
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They may attend the same schools they were attending before becoming homeless. You may have a homeless classmate and not know it. However, many homeless children miss school or perform at a decreased level because of their circumstances.
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Which state has the most homeless people?
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Date : 11/27/2007
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Florida has among the highest number of homeless people in the country. Every state in the Union, along with many countries around the world, has a homelessness problem.
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What can people do to help homeless families?
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Date : 5/19/2008
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Make donations to organizations that provide shelter and other services for children and families. In Pinellas County, such agencies include: Alpha House, ASAP Homeless Services, Boley Centers, Clearwater Homeless Intervention Program (CHIP), Homeless Emergency Project (HEP), St. Petersburg Dream Center, Suncoast Haven of Rest Rescue Mission, The Salvation Army and Touched By An Angel.
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