A study finds that most homeless people are victims of a downward spiral that begins in their youth

December 8, 1999
Web posted at: 10:44 a.m. EST (1544 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A new study on America's homeless finds victims of a downward spiral that often begins in their youth with physical and sexual abuse, poverty and poor education.

The government-funded study also says most homeless people are successful in escaping their lives on the streets when they get help from federal and other programs.

"When we give people the help they need, it works," Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Andrew Cuomo said on CNN Wednesday morning.

Findings of survey • 33 percent of homeless men surveyed are military veterans. • 25 percent reported childhood physical or sexual abuse; 33 percent ran away from home; 27 percent said they lived in foster care, group homes or other institutions as children. • 68 percent of homeless program participants are male; 32 percent female; 43 percent are black; 38 percent are white; 15 percent are Hispanic; and 3 percent are Native American. • 46 percent said they had a chronic health problem such as arthritis or cancer; 39 percent reported a mental health problem; and 38 percent reported an alcohol problem. • 38 percent have not received a high school diploma, compared with 18 percent of the overall population.     MESSAGE BOARD Poverty in America

"Seventy-six percent that received services moved out of homelessness into permanent housing, into productive lives," Cuomo said.

Actor William Baldwin, who is an advocate for the homeless, visited shelters with Cuomo in Washington. He said he was moved by a woman who completed assistance programs, "putting her life back together" and learning skills in child care.

"She felt like a parent for the first time," Baldwin said.

In the survey, homeless people said their top priority was finding a job. In the 30 days before they were surveyed, single homeless people reported a mean income of $348 and homeless families reported a mean income of $475.

In addition, 40 percent of those surveyed said they went without food one or more days in the previous month because they couldn't afford it.

The government interviewed 4,207 people, most of them homeless or poor people who rely on homeless assistance programs. The study is also based on interviews with representatives of 11,909 programs dealing with homeless people.

The interviews were conducted in 1996 and were followed by two years of analysis. The Census Bureau collected the data and the report was prepared by the Urban Institute. Interviews were conducted in 76 metropolitan areas, cities and rural areas.

HUD has invested nearly $5 billion in programs to help homeless people since President Clinton took office in 1993 more than three times as much as the $1.5 billion HUD spent on homeless assistance programs from 1987 to 1993.