CITYVISIONS
Follow-Up
on Issues Featured on CityVisions
Cathie Buckner discusses Homelessness in Nashville
According
to the National
Coalition for the Homeless, the bare minimum of entirely homeless individuals
in the United States in 2006 is more than 750,000. The actual number
is likely 2-4 million or more, as many cities only count the homeless
who are actually in shelters on a given random date, thus underreporting
figures. Many Americans have part-time shelter, moving in and out of
motels and other weekly rental situations. When these and others who
live in garages, motorhomes, automobiles, abandoned buildings and other
forms of makeshift housing are included, the number of Americans who
currently do not have a permanent residence is likely well over 10 million.
One of the fastest growing statistical segments of the U.S. homeless
population is single women with children. Lack of affordable healthcare,
coupled with a catastrophic family illness, is a growing reason why many
formerly working-class and middle-class productive citizens are becoming
homeless. Approximately 50% of all homeless women and children are fleeing
some form of domestic violence. Approximately 25% of the urban
homeless are children under 18. Forty percent of homeless men have
served in the U.S. military.
For more information on the Nashville Homeless Power Project, the organization
that Cathie represents, please visit www.homelesspower.org.
