The National Alliance to End Homelessness has updated its census of the homeless population. The headline is that nationally this group increased in size by 20,000 between 2008 and 2009, a 3 percent rise. Thirty-one of 50 states saw increases with Louisiana leading the way with 100 percent growth. California grew 3.4 percent -- 128,785 to 133,129 -- during that period.
Broken out by sub-populations, the data shows the largest percentage growth among family households (4 percent).
In 2009 most homeless people lived in some type of shelter, but "nearly 4 in 10 were living on the street, in a car, or in another place not intended for human habitation."
Homelessness affects people of all ages, races, ethnicity and geography, say NAEH researchers, but some groups are at high risk: "people living in doubled up situations, people discharged from prison, young adults aged out of foster care, and uninsured people." California, Florida and Nevada are three states with high multiple risk factors, especially foreclosure and unemployment.
PHOTO CREDIT: Homeless people living in tents along the river parkway northeast of the Blue Diamond Almond facility in Sacramento, 2009. Sacramento Bee photo by Randall Benton.
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