Mission unaccomplished

We did not sleep in boxes.

Rain cancellation.

I still feel obligated to bring awareness. Here are facts about homelessness:

• 
  single men comprise 44 percent of the homeless, single women 13 percent, families with children 36 percent, and unaccompanied minors seven percent.


• the homeless population is about 50 percent African-American, 35 percent white, 12 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Native American and 1 percent Asian.


• 30 percent have been homeless for more than two years.


• 66 percent of the homeless have problems with alcohol, drug abuse, or mental illness

Homeless Children:

• According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, 1.35 million U.S. children are homeless on any given night.


• Families with children are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, accounting for almost 41% of the nation's homeless


• In 2003, children under the age of 18 accounted for 39% of the homeless population.


• 42% of homeless children are under the age of five.


• 14% of homeless children are diagnosed with learning disabilities - double the rate of other children.


• Within a single school year, 41% of homeless students attend two different schools, 28% attend three or more.


• Poverty and lack of affordable housing are the principal causes of family homelessness.

What I wish I got out of the experience was some understanding of how it feels to be homeless. To get a taste of what so many people undergo on a daily basis. But I think the most important thing to understand is people who are homeless are people like YOU and ME.