The Voice of the White House
Washington, D.C., July 18, 2017:” There has recently appeared in intelligence circles inside the Beltway, a highly classified report by a German intelligence agency giving a horrifying report on burgeoning American social and economic problems. I have a copy of this but there is no way I would print it in toto. But from it, I learn that 1,652,832 Amercans are now homeless. This documented report speaks to those unfortunates now living on the streets, in cars, in homeless shelters, or in subsidized transitional housing . Of that number, 582,348 were family groups, 582,981 were individuals, and a quarter of the entire group were children under the age of ten.
135,592 individuals, or 15% of the homeless population, are considered “chronically homeless.” Chronic homelessness is defined as an individual who has a disability and has experienced homelessness for a year or longer, or and individual who has a disability and has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the last three years (must be a cumulative of 12 months).
Families with at least one adult member who meets that description are also considered chronically homeless and the greater number of these tend to have high rates of behavioral health problems, including severe mental illness and substance use disorders; conditions that may be exacerbated by physical illness, injury, or trauma.”
47,725, or about 18% of the homeless population, are veterans.
Homeless veterans have served in several different conflicts from WWII to the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The nation’s capital has the highest rate of veteran homelessness in the nation (282.7 homeless veterans per 10,000). 45% of homeless veterans are black or Hispanic. While less than 10% of homeless veterans are women, that number is seen to be sharply rising.
1.4 million veterans are at risk of homelessness. This is partially due to poverty, overcrowding in government housing, and a wide spread lack of governmental support networks. This report indicates that those who served in the late Vietnam and post-Vietnam era are at greatest risk of homelessness. War-related disabilities or disorders often contribute to veteran homelessness, including physical disabilities, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury, depression and anxiety, and addiction.
821,000 unaccompanied, single youth and young adults under the age of 24 experience a homelessness episode of longer than one week. Approximately 531,000 of that total are under the age of 18.
Accurately counting homeless children and youth is particularly difficult.
270,000 LGBTQ youth in the U.S. are homeless. This is one of the most vulnerable homeless populations. A substantial number of young people who identify as LGBTQ say that they live in a community that is not accepting of LGBTQ people. In fact, LGBTQ youths make up 20% of runaway youths in the United States today. Family rejection, physical and sexual abuse, and parental and societal neglect are major reasons LGBTQ youth end up on the streets.
Additionally, homeless LGBTQ youth are substantially more likely than heterosexual homeless youth to be victims of sexual assault and abuse. LGBTQ homeless youth are twice as likely to commit suicide compared to heterosexual homeless youth.
Sixty-two percent of the homeless population are over the age of 50. These individuals often face additional health and safety risks associated with age. They are more prone to injuries from falls, and may suffer from cognitive impairment, vision or hearing loss, major depression, and chronic conditions like diabetes and arthritis.
There is no doubt this highly negative report is accurate and wherever possible, I have been able to verify the depressing and potentially very dangerous numbers.
Unless the government agencies make a sincere effort to address these growing and worsening problems, there is very rough sailing ahead for complaisant and corrupt Washington.”
Table of Contents
- Journalist under fire for calling it ‘crazy’ not to be disgusted by homeless people
- ‘So many threats’: GOP lawmaker refuses to hold town hall meeting over safety concerns
- Driverless Cars: Hype, Hubris And Distractions
- U.S. Senate Republicans set repeal vote as healthcare overhaul sinks
- It takes two: Senate plans to separate Obamacare repeal bill from replacement
- AIPAC Still Our Biggest Foreign Agent
- The Macron effect: France now world’s top ‘soft power’ thanks to president, cuisine and culture
- Stalin and his cleansings
- Syrian army captures more oil wells in Raqqa province
- Ukraine separatist ‘Little Russia’ sparks concern over peace deal
- Robot cop found face down in office-block fountain
- 300-Pound Security Robot Runs Over Toddler At California Shopping Center
- Police shoot toddler
- Ohio ex-cop who shot black motorist will not face new trial
- Justine Damond: ‘Why did the police not use their cameras?’
- Justine Damond is the 541st person shot dead by US police this year
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