Facts on Homelessness.
The 2009 Point in Time survey found that the number of homeless families in the Washington metropolitan area increased 15 percent in the past year. The District of Columbia saw an increase of 3 percent, from 6,044 in 2008 to 6,228 in 2009. The survey found 3,934 unaccompanied single people and 2,294 people in families, including children. “DC officials said they have made strides in moving people off the streets, which the report does not measure. Laura Zeilinger of the D.C. Department of Human Services said the number of people on the street dropped 15 percent in January from a year earlier. Many have moved into new transition programs.” 1
1 The Washington Post, April 4, 2009
There are 587 literally homeless families in D.C. which include 687 adults and 1,149 children. Homeless families are most frequently headed by a sole female adult. Prior to becoming homeless most families lived in Ward 7 or 8.
The National Center on Family Homelessness study, “America’s Youngest Outcasts: State Report Card on Child Homelessness” found that more than 1.5 million children were without a home in 2005-2006.
Of those, 902,108 are school-aged and enrolled in school. 77.3 percent or 697,130 are in grades K-8, 22.7 percent or 204,978 are in grades 9-12.
One in 50 children is homeless in the United States every year.
42 percent of homeless children are younger than 6.
African-American and Native American children are disproportionately represented.
The study also found that homeless children have poor health, emotional problems and low graduation rates.
More than 1 in 7 homeless children have moderate to severe health conditions, such as asthma.
Almost one in 18 homeless children are members of families where adults hit or throw things.
One in six homeless children suffer from emotional disturbances.
Approximately 1.16 million of homeless children today will not graduate from high school. Less than one in four homeless children graduates from high school.
Students who drop out of high school earn on average $200,000 less over their lifetime than high school graduates.
Proficiency rates for homeless children in reading and math are on average 16% lower than the scores for all students.
