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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 : 6/1/2009
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According to the results of the annual point-in-time count and survey of homeless people in 2009, there are approximately 6,235 homeless men, women and children in Pinellas County. This is a 20% increase over 2007. Of this amount, 31.2% are children. Here are some other statistics from the 2009 count and survey:
- 66% male and 34% female
- 3.5% are over the age of 65
- 35% grew up in Pinellas County; 67% became homeless after moving to Pinellas County
- 18.2% are veterans
- 86.3% cited lack of income, lost job or financial reasons as a primary reason for homelessness
- 42.8% of homeless adults have one or more disabling conditions of long duration:
- 45.4% = Mental health/emotional
- 45.3% = Physical/medical
- 29.5% = Alcohol/drugs
- 3.5% = Developmental
- 5.0% = HIV/AIDS
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Where do the homeless sleep at night?
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Date : 9/17/2009
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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 : 6/1/2009
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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 2,232 unsheltered homeless individuals and families 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 : 9/17/2009
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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 : 9/17/2009
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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 : 6/1/2009
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Statistics from the 2009 homeless census show that 64.4% of the homeless surveyed stated they have lived in Pinellas County for one year or more, while 46.8% have lived here five years or more. More than 35% of those surveyed grew up in Pinellas County, and 67% of those who moved here became homeless after coming to Pinellas County.
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How do the homeless get medical care?
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Date : 9/17/2009
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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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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 : 9/17/2009
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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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Why don't homeless people just get jobs?
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Date : 3/15/2011
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One of the most common myths about homeless people is they are too lazy to work. However, research shows that only 3% of homeless people in Pinellas County do not desire to work. The truth is many homeless people already have jobs! However, many of these jobs pay minimum wage (not a living wage), and there is no where in the Florida a person can rent a one-bedroom apartment at market rate making minimum wage. There are many families that are precariously housed because they pay 50% or more of their income on rent. That does not leave much left for utilities, food, medicine, transportation and so on. Other working people are homeless due to excessive payments for alimony, child support or mandatory insurance for non-custodial children. Wage garnishments for defaulted student loans or other debts can withhold up to 25% of a person's income. So, many homeless people work multiple jobs, many of which are part-time and low-wage, temporary or seasonal. Of course, finding any work in the current economy is difficult, with Pinellas County's unemployment rate holding at 12.1%, well above the national average. Finding and keeping employment is especially hard for unsheltered homeless persons. Issues such as where to store belongings, how to stay clean and well-groomed, and having money for public transportation hamper and complicate employment. Employers tend to discriminate against persons who are already unemployed, have gaps in their employment history, have poor credit ratings, have criminal records, do not have a fixed, permanent address, do not have phones, and do not have their own dependable transportation.
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What is the educational level of those who are experiencing homelessness?
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Date : 9/17/2009
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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 : 9/17/2009
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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 : 9/17/2009
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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 : 3/18/2010
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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, The Shepherd Center, Touched By An Angel Ministries and YWCA/USF Family Village.
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What is the best way to help homeless people?
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Date : 3/15/2011
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The very best way to help homeless people is to do something rather than nothing. Because homelessness is a complicated issue, many people hesitate to act because they are so unsure of what to do. Perhaps, you can begin by changing attitudes about people experiencing homelessness. Spread empathy toward homeless people, then action will follow. Society has categorized homeless people as lazy, crazy, violent, addicted criminals who choose to be homeless. Society sees homeless people as morally and socially inferior, even contemptable. There is a common myth that "regular, average, normal" people cannot become homeless. The truth is that homelessness can happen to any of us. It is a temporary circumstance, not a permanent definition. People experiencing homelessness are people just like everyone else. Unfortunately, these people have had something overtake them beyond their ability (mentally, emotionally, financially, physically) to cope. So, educate yourself and then change your attitude. What to do next will come to you naturally.
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Why do some homeless people prefer to sleep outside when there are homeless shelters available?
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Date : 3/15/2011
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Shelters are useful facilities that provide protection from the elements, safety from street violence and access to food and supportive services. However, from the homeless persons' point of view, some shelters have their downside as well. The top ten issues that discourage shelter use by some homeless people are: rigid check-in hours incompatible with work hours, required participation in AA or other support group meetings even if you do not have an addiction, lack of accommodations for those with disabilities, danger of rape or assault, probability of shoes or other property being stolen, fear of contracting disease or parasites (bed bugs, lice, etc.), separation from family members due to age or gender, required participation in religious services, fear of exposure to drugs and prostitution; and fear of the loss of dignity due to the humiliating and dehumanizing check-in process and overall shelter environment, fueled by the unspoken attitudes, biases and presumptions of shelter staff.
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Why is it important to befriend homeless people?
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Date : 3/15/2011
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Becoming friends with a person experiencing homelessness helps to heal her or him from the trauma he or she has experienced and to build a support structure that will help her or him reconnect with society. The nonjudgmental emotional support gives a person hope and encouragement needed to motivate themselves to begin to tackle the issues in their lives and start on the road to self-sufficiency.
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What should I give to a homeless person?
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Date : 3/15/2011
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The best you can give to a person experiencing homelessness is yourself -- your time, knowledge, labor, and friendship. Start by giving a simple acknowledgement. Like "Jackson" said in The Cardboard Stories play, "Blissful Turmoil," the next time you see a homeless person, simply say "hello." This goes a long way in restoring a person's dignity. After that, if you decide to give directly to a homeless person, be thoughtful and consider giving small gifts of necessities, help finding a job, or assistance completing paperwork. All of this helps. Giving food and money is discouraged by many local governments now, but it is not illegal. So, be led by your conscience and the circumstances in front of you.
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How can I help homeless people without giving them money?
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Date : 3/15/2011
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It isn't necessary to donate money to help people less fortunate. Instead, you can donate time, connections, knowledge, and skills to homeless people. While these things cost time, labor, and thought they don't take away from your paycheck. In fact, they look great on your resume and they are a great way to fill in any gaps in your employment record. Volunteer your services at homeless service providers; shelters, meal sites, and food pantries always need more help with tasks like preparing and serving meals, cleaning the facility, driving the van, babysitting, teaching a pre-employment class, sorting donated clothes or organizing a fundraiser. There are at least 101 ways you can help.
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Why do some people remain homeless?
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Date : 3/17/2011
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The reasons people become homeless can be easily assessed, but the circumstances that keep some people trapped in endless cycles of chronic homelessness are less obvious. An unemployed person might find a job, an addict might kick the habit, a disabled person might qualify for Social Security Disability, or a mentally ill person might get successful treatment yet still remain homeless. There are several reasons for this. First, homelessness often causes or worsens mental illness. Many homeless people who start out mentally sound develop PTSD or other mental illnesses as a result of physical assaults, sexual assaults, sleep deprivation, and exposure to trauma. Some types of mental illness prevent a person from being employed or in some cases prevent a person from being able to care for himself or even unable to seek help from others. Secondly, untreated physical injuries create disabilities. Head injuries due to beatings are very common among homeless people. Exposure to the elements can also cause injuries such as frostbite which, if left untreated can lead to the loss of digits, dexterity, or mobility. Once a homeless person becomes disabled, getting out of homelessness will become extremely difficult. Other factors that make it extremely hard to extract oneself from the cycle of homelessness include lack of medical care, family and friends won't help, criminalization of homelessness, lost or stolen ID, insufficient educational attainment, and lack of job and social skills.
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What about elderly people?
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Date : 3/15/2011
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Most elderly people become unable to work eventually. If they have no family willing to support them they will often become homeless. While some elderly people can collect Social Security it is often either too little or too late. Many people develop age related diseases or conditions before they reach 65-67 years of age. They become too ill or frail to work before they qualify for retirement and must try to navigate Social Security Disability which can take years to get. Once they become homeless it is very difficult for them to collect either.The average Social Security check elderly Americans collect is usually not enough to pay for housing, food, and utilities. This can sometimes be solved by getting roommates but then conflict with or the death of roommates often leaves elderly people homeless.
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