It is estimated that between
4,500 and
7,500 individuals in Marion County experience homelessness during the course of the year.
HUD, however,
only considers a person to be homeless if he or she meets one of two different classifications:
The Sheltered HomelessResides in an emergency shelter or transitional housing for homeless persons who originally came from the streets or emergency shelters. Those known to be homeless and residing in a motel meet HUD's definition of homelessness
only if they are using a voucher. Living with friends or extended family on a temporary basis does
not meet
HUD's definition, although it
does meet the overall definition of homelessness.
The Unsheltered HomelessResides in a place not meant for human habitation, such as a car, park, sidewalk, abandoned building, or on the street.
The 2008 survey followed HUD's definition of homelessness. For the purpose of consistent HUD data throughout the nation, the count must occur on
one day during the last ten days of January, which typically is a time when shelters are at capacity due to cold weather. Though this one-day methodology is necessary to provide national consistent data annually, the
actual number of homeless is
significantly higher, when
including those
living in motels without a voucher and those
temporarily residing with relatives. A
point-in-time count attempts to count, in
only a few hours, a population that is, by nature,
constantly changing and
difficult to find.
It has been found that homeless people do
not fit a stereotype. Although chronic substance abuse and mental illness affect a large number of the homeless population, approximately
23 percent of homeless persons are
actively employed and approximately
21 percent are
in school, including children.
Please help us...to help them.
Email: angelic.covering@yahoo.com