The Herald Bulletin

June 15, 2009

Homeless: By the numbers


Madison County homeless shelters

— Alternatives Inc. (643-0200) provides emergency and transitional shelter for women and children

— Christian Center (649-4264) provides emergency and longer-term shelter for men

— Beauty for Ashes (724-3454) provides transitional shelter for women

— House of Hope of Madison County (644-7086) provides halfway and three-quarters houses for men with addictions

— Dove Harbor (642-1853) provides transitional shelter for women

— Stepping Stones (648-1101) provides emergency and longer-term housing for veterans

Why the homeless don’t seek shelter

— Inability or unwillingness to follow rules: No drugs or alcohol, curfew, “pray to stay”

— Inability or unwillingness to socialize with others

— Mental illness causing paranoia or other anxiety from being around people

Indiana homeless rates (2005)

— Emergency shelter population: 3,230

— Transitional housing population: 3,849

— Unsheltered population: 2,798

— Total homeless: 9,877

— Chronically homeless (sheltered): 1,680

— Chronically homeless (unsheltered): 592

— Total chronically homeless: 2,272

National homeless rates (2005)

— Number homeless on a single day in January 2005: 415,366

— Number homeless on April 30, 2005: 313,722

— Number homeless on a single day between Feb. 1, 2005 and April 30, 2005: 334,744

Source: 2005 Housing and Urban Development Continuum of Care applications