|
|
| |
What is considered 'affordable'?
In the words of HUD , "the generally accepted definition of affordability is for a household to pay no more than 30 percent of its annual income on housing. Families who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing are considered cost burdened and may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation and medical care."
|
|
| |
How well funded is public housing?
Due to funding limitations, only about one-fourth of eligible families currently receive any federal housing assistance (Source: CBPP).
|
|
| |
What has the federal government done about homelessness?
The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act was the first -— and remains the only -– comprehensive federal legislative response to homelessness. The statue, now known as the McKinney-Vento Assistance Act, was passed by Congress in 1987. Read about the history and particulars of the act from this document (from the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty).
|
|
| |
How many homeless people are there in the US?
Due to the nature of homelessness, it is very difficult to arrive at a reliable figure. The best approximation is from the Urban Institute's National Survey of Homeless Assistance Providers, based on a study of service providers across the country in 1996. Ths study estimated that between 2.3 million and 3.5 million people, or approximately 1% of the U.S. population, experiences homelessness each year. Just under 40% were estimated to be children. Subsequent local studies have indicated that the number of homeless individuals continues to rise every year. For more information on these estimates, visit the National Coalition for the Homeless or the National Alliance to End Homelessness FAQ.
|
|
http://zfacts.com/p/606.html | 01/18/12 07:28 GMT
Modified: Mon, 17 Apr 2006 18:32:58 GMT
|
|
