FACTS ON HOMELESSNESS ACROSS THE NATION

• Children and Families make up the fastest segment of the homeless population
• There are as many as 500,000 in families nationwide and 1.35 million children homeless each year
• Over half of homeless families have been homeless for 6 months The average homeless child in America is 6 years old; the average age of a homeless person is 9 years old

FACTS ON MUNCIE HOMELESSNESS

• Homeless families with children are regularly turned away at local shelters for lack of services and accommodation
• According to Department of Community Development homeless families are the highest priority and have the biggest gap in services in the Muncie area
• Families are a “hidden” population, staying with friends and family members, oft times meaning children do not have a bed to sleep in and do not attend school regularly
• Under-education, domestic violence and unemployment are the main causes for homelessness in the Muncie area
• Bridges Community Services houses over 150 low-income and homeless person nightly through it’s Transitional, Section 8, and regular rental projects