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Homelessness in the United States of America is an area of concern for social service providers, government officials, policy professionals, and society at large.〔Donohoe, Martin, M.D., ("Homelessness in the United States: History, Epidemiology, Health Issues, Women, and Public Policy" ), ''Ob/Gyn & Women's Health'' journal, 2004;9(2) July 7, 2004.〕 Although the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in January 2012 annual point-in-time count found that 633,782 people across America were homeless, other counts vary widely. In a recent approximation, an estimated 1.6 million unduplicated persons used transitional housing or emergency shelters. Of these people, approximately 1/3 are members of households with children, a nine percent increase since 2007. Another approximation is from a study done by the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, which states that approximately 3.5 million people, 1.35 million of them children, are likely to experience homelessness in a given year (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, 2007).〔http://www.nationalhomeless.org/factsheets/How_Many.html〕 With 2007 as a benchmark, the data from the report showed a 6.8 percent decline in homelessness among individuals, a 3.7 percent decline of homeless families, a 13.1 percent decline of the unsheltered homeless population, and a 19.3 percent decline in persons experiencing chronic homelessness.〔(The 2012 Point-in-Time Estimates of Homelessness. ) ''2012 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report''. Washington, D.C.: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2012.〕 One out of 50 children or 1.5 million children in America will be homeless each year.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title= Facts and Figures:The Homeless )〕 In 2013 that number jumped to one out of 30 children, or 2.5 million.〔David Crary and Lisa Leff (November 17, 2014). (New Report: Child Homelessness on the Rise in US ). ''The Associated Press.'' Retrieved November 22, 2014.〕 There were an estimated 57,849 homeless veterans estimated in the United States during January 2013; or 12 percent of all homeless adults. Just under 8 percent of homeless U.S. veterans are female. Texas, California and Florida have the highest numbers of unaccompanied homeless youth under the age of 18; comprising 58% of the total homeless under 18 youth population 〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=The 2013 Annual Homeless Assessment report (AHAR) to Congress )〕 Because of turnover in the homeless population, the total number of people who experience homelessness for at least a few nights during the course of a year is thought to be considerably higher than point-in-time counts. A 2000 study estimated the number of such people to be between 2.3 million and 3.5 million.〔(A New Look at Homelessness in America ), Urban Institute, February 1, 2000〕〔(America's Homeless: Populations and Services ), Urban Institute, February 1, 2000〕 According to Amnesty International USA, vacant houses outnumber homeless people by five times.〔(Vacant Houses Outnumber Homeless People in U.S. ) ''Truthdig,'' December 31, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2014.〕 ==Overview== In 2015, homelessness is considered an epidemic in several American cities. "Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and seven of the 15 City Council members announced they would declare a state of emergency and try to find $100 million to cure what has become a municipal curse." 〔http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/los_angeles_officials_homeless_state_of_emergency_20150923〕 Homelessness in New York City has tripled since JAN2000, from approximately 20,000 people using provided nightly shelter services to more than 60,000 in JAN2015.〔http://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/?gclid=CJD1vv2w3sgCFUyPHwodyXII6Q〕 These counts do not include those persons who choose to stay away from shelter providers. Current reasons cited for an epic increase in homelessness are economic policies supported by the Republican Party, especially since 2000. During the last decade and more, a transfer of wealth from the poorer classes to the wealthier classes has affected widespread poverty across the country,〔http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/nyc_where_bonuses_rise_income_gap_yawns_20140314〕〔http://www.cnbc.com/2013/09/19/druckenmiller-fed-shifting-money-to-rich-from-poor.html〕〔http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/04/23/a-rise-in-wealth-for-the-wealthydeclines-for-the-lower-93/〕 later exacerbated by the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. Poverty and homelessness have also become methods of 'disruption' used against political activists, such as members of the Occupy Movement. Shut down in 2011 by national security agencies and local police forces collaborating with private business,〔http://www.democracynow.org/2012/12/27/the_fbi_vs_occupy_secret_docs〕〔http://www.democracynow.org/2013/10/10/report_finds_police_worldwide_criminalize_dissent〕 members say they later lost jobs, defaulted on home mortgages, then became homeless.〔http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/state_of_fear_20130107〕 Incidents of domestic violence contribute to homelessness among women, who are often denied police protection and legal recourse. In 2008, according to the United States Conference of Mayors, the three most commonly cited causes of homelessness for persons and families were a lack of affordable housing (cited by 72 percent) poverty (52%), and unemployment (44%).〔(Hunger and Homelessness Survey. ) A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities: A 25-City Survey, 2008.〕 The suggestions to alleviate homelessness included providing more housing for persons with disabilities (72%), creating more employment opportunities (68%), and building more assisted housing units (64%).〔 Over the past decades, the availability and quality of data on homelessness has improved considerably, due, in part, to initiatives by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the US Department of Health and Human Services, the US Department of Veterans Affairs, and several nongovernmental organizations working with homeless populations. Since 2007, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development has issued an Annual Homeless Assessment Report, which revealed the number of individuals and families that were homeless, both sheltered and unsheltered. It standardized the data collection processes and created more opportunities for government officials and service providers to remedy the problem of homelessness in the United States. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Homelessness in the United States」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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