Causes of Homelessness

    Job Loss
  • According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as of November 2008, Indiana has an unemployment rate of 7.1. Over 12,000 jobs were lost between October 2008 and November 2008.
  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2007 7,637,000 people in the United States were unemployed.
    Divorce
  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2007, 10.3% of United States citizens are divorced. This does not count families who are separated without divorce.
  • According to the Associated Press, as of 2006, nearly 40% of children in the United States are born out of wedlock.
  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, over 4,500 more non-married families are in poverty than married families in the United States.
    Domestic Violence
  • According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, as of 2007, domestic violence is the second leading cause of homelessness for women.
  • According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, 13% of homeless families said they had left their last place of residence because of domestic abuse.
    Lack of Affordable Housing
  • According to the HUD Comprehensive Housing Affordability Strategy, 4,245 families in Johnson County were paying over 50% of their household incomes in rent, and 1,510 were paying over 30% of their household incomes to rent during the year 2000.
    Health Issues
  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, as of 2006, 896,000 people in Indiana were disabled.
    Mental Illness
  • According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, approximately 16% of the single adult homeless population suffers from a severe mental illness.
    Addiction
  • According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, as of 2007 22.3 million people in the United States who were 12 years or older were classified with substance abuse or dependence.
  • According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, as of 2007 20% of unemployed adults suffered from substance dependence or abuse.
    Poverty
  • According to the AARP's Public Policy Institute, in 2006 the poverty rate in Indiana was 12.7%.
  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2004 the poverty rate in Johnson County was 7.7%.
  • According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty threshold for a family of two adults and two children was $21,834 in 2008.
  • According to the Indiana Self-Sufficiency Calculator, provided by the Indiana Coalition on Housing and Homeless Issues, a family of two adults and two children in Johnson County would need to make a combined income of $3,739.24 a month to meet their needs with no subsidies.
    • This means that each working adult in the household would need to make $11.69 an hour to pay for their expenses.
    • In a year, they would need to make $44,870.88 to meet their needs. This is over double the government defined poverty level.
    Release From Jail
  • According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, "Many people released from prison or jails are at risk for homelessness, which can increase the likelihood that they will commit new crimes and return to prison."
    Eviction
  • It has been the experience of Christian Help Inc. that many large apartment complexes follow this eviction procedure:
    • A late fee is charged if rent is cannot be paid by the 5th of the month.
    • If the rent still cannot be paid, an eviction notice is filed by the 10th of the month.
  • Other landlords are willing to work with tenants and with Christian Help Inc. to see that rent is paid without eviction.