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According to figures provided by the
US Department of Health and Human
Services, up to 600,000 men, women, and children go homeless each
night in the US.
Recent evidence confirms that
homelessness among families
is increasing. A survey of 25 U.S. cities found that in 2000, families
with children accounted for 36% of the homeless population (U.S.
Conference of Mayors, 2000), with requests for emergency shelter by
families with children increasing an average of 17% from previous the
year.
In
New York City alone, city officials estimated that there were
30,000 people utilizing the shelter system on a daily basis, more than
at any other time in the city's history.
Canada:
A
recent study showed that the number of people sleeping in
Toronto shelters each night is roughly 5,000. That is five times the
average number only a decade ago, and does not include an estimated
1,000 more who will spend the night unsheltered.
(Source: Christian Science Monitor)
Great
Britain:
According to a December 2000 study, approximately 1200 people sleep
rough in England each night, with over
300 of them being in inner London. This figure does not include the
20,000 people living in accommodations for the homeless, nor people
staying in bed and breakfasts and squats.
(Source: St. Mungo's)
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