Why are so many people homeless?

“People who are homeless are not social inadequates.

They are people without homes.”

- Sheila McKechnie

Homelessness is a growing problem

in the world today. Federal legislation

describes being “homeless” as an

individual who lacks a regular, fixed

residence. Every single night men,

women, and children sleep outside

because they don’t have homes of

their own. Some have mental illnesses

and don’t have the ability to have them

treated. Others have a low-paying

job or no job at all. In some cases

substance abuse is the reason for

not being able to afford housing. Did you know?

41% of the homeless population is comprised of families.

23% of all homeless were members of families with children.

“Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up.” The reverend Jesse Jackson

Did you know?

Children under 18 make up 27% of the homeless population The recession will force 1.5 million more people into homelessness over the next two

year

46% of homeless report chronic health conditions, such as cancer

POVERTY

ALLEVIATION FOR

INTERNALLY

DISPLACED PERSONS:

CASE STUDY OF

GEORGIA

The frozen conflicts in Abkhazia

and South Ossetia have created

anywhere from 200,000 to 350,000

internally displaced persons (IDPs)

in Georgia. The number of IDPs

worldwide has steadily risen and has

now surpassed the number of

refugees globally. Problems of

poverty permeate the IDP issue. On

one hand, displaced Abkhazian and

South Ossetian people suffer from

extensive poverty due to insufficient

infrastructure, lack of job

opportunities and the ambiguity

surrounding which agency or

government is responsible for the

IDPs’ needs. On the other side of

the issue, the stagnation of the

frozen conflict precludes efforts at

positive long-term poverty

alleviation. To better understand the

conflicts in these regions and their

implications for IDP poverty in

Georgia, this note explores the

history of these tensions and how

Russian interests may have worked

against their resolution.

By: Maggie Koziol

India has the highest percentage of the population defined as “homeless”

Location: Middle East

Capitol: New Delhi

Population: 1.17 billion

Size: 1.27 million sq. miles

Languages: Hindi, and English

Infant mortality rate: 5%

Life expectancy: 66 years

Religions: Hindu, Muslim, and Christian

Literacy rate: 61%

Doctor to patient ratio: 1/1700

Population living on less than 2 dollars a day: 80%

How is this affecting Indianapolis?

A cases study done in 2009 showed that Indiana has the 24th

highest

number of homeless children in the nation. Approximately 25% of

Indianapolis’ homeless population is under the age of 18. The Coalition

for Homelessness Intervention and prevention has put a plan in effect to

end homelessness in 10 years.

Homelessness is not only a problem in

other countries. If you have been to

downtown Indianapolis then it is painfully

obvious how many displaced persons there

are just in this city. The Indiana government

should be helping these people and these

families to get off the street and into a warm

home. IUPUI counted 1,454 homeless

on a single night in 2009. 213 families were

in that count, up from 120 in 2008.

www.unhcr.org

www.internal-displacement.org

www.horizonhouse.cc

www.homeless.org.au

http://www.slate.com/id/2218586/