Homelessness in America:

Homelessness is one of the most intense social crises facing the United States since the onset of the Great Depression more than 60 years ago. Estimates of the total population of homeless are argued to range from 250,000 to upwards of three million, with a pro- jected rate of increase of approximately 24% per year. The spectrum of diversity within the population mirrors that of society in general, except that the problems are more severe, as illustrated by the difficul- ties facing the homeless mentally ill. Thirty-eight percent of the homeless are single-parent, primarily female-headed families, thus re- presenting the fastest growing segment of the population. This paper will consider the phenomenon of homeless as a contemporary social issue, and include recommendations for public policy and social response.