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Stat house Homelessness By 1995, 36.4 million Americans lived in poverty. Of which, 40 percent were children.--U.S. Bureau of Census, via the National Coalition for the Homeless. For an increasing number of Americans, work provides no relief from poverty. In 1995, real median income was 3.8 percent below its 1989 level.—U.S. Bureau of Census, via the National Coalition for the Homeless. More stats Capital punishment Environment Homelessness Welfare reform Our booming prisons Disappearing health care Refugees worldwide Misc. stats In 1996, the U.S. Conference of Mayors found that at least 19 percent of the homeless population were employed.—A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities, via the National Coalition for the Homeless. In no state does a full-time minimum wage job cover the costs of a one-bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent, and in 45 states and the District of Columbia, families would need to earn at least double the minimum wage in order to afford a two-bedroom unit at Fair Market Rent.—Out of Reach: Can America Pay the Rent?, via the National Coalition for the Homeless. A recent study of 29 U.S. cities found that in 1996, 20 percent of all requests for emergency shelter went unmet due to lack of resources.—A Status Reoprt on Hunger and Homelessness in America's cities, via the National Coalition for the Homeless. There are few or no shelters in rural areas of the U.S., despite significant levels of homelessness.—The National Coalition for the Homeless. It is estimated that 760,000 people are homeless on any given night, and 1.2 to 2 million people experience homelessness during one year.—National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, via the National Coalition for the Homeless. Two trends are largely responsible for the rise in homelessness over the past 15 to 20 years: a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty.—The National Coalition for the Homeless. In 1996, the U.S. Conference of Mayors' survey found that single men comprised 45 percent of the homeless population and single women 14 percent.—A Status Reoprt on Hunger and Homelessness in America's cities, via the National Coalition for the Homeless. A 1990 Ford Foundation study found that 50 percent of homeless women and children were fleeing abuse.—Women Battering: A Major Cause of Homelessness, via the National Coalition for the Homeless. In 1996, the U.S. Conference of Mayors' survey of 29 American cities found that 19 percent of the urban homeless population were veterans.—A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities, via the National Coalition for the Homeless.   More resources The National Coalition for the Homeless: The National Coalition for the Homeless (NCH) is a national advocacy network of homeless persons, activists, service providers, and others committed to a single goal: to end homelessness. Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program: Public and private partnership funding more than 11,000 agencies in more than 2,400 communities that annually serve the hungry and homeless. St. Vincent De Paul Village: A non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of the homeless, established in 1953. Neighborhood Networks: This site aims to enhance the self-sufficiency, employability, and economic self-reliance of low-income families and the elderly living in HUD-insured and -assisted properities. Computer Literacy for the Homeless: A site dedicated to teaching computer skills to the homeless to provide a means for potential employment. 54 Ways to Help the Homeless: A book on the Net by Rabbi Charles A. Kroloff. Habitat for Humanity: The nation's largest builder of homes for the poor and homeless, this site contains 100 links to Habitat for Humanity sites around the world.