LibGuides: Poverty in the US: Homelessness & Housing Instability

Featured ebooks

Reimagining Homelessness: A Blueprint for Policy and Practice by Eoin O'Sullivan
Call Number: Ebook.
ISBN: 1447353544
Publication Date: 2020
Invisible Nation : Homeless Families in America by Schweid, Richard
Call Number: Ebook
Publication Date: 2016
Homelessness Is a Housing Problem : How Structural Factors Explain U.S. Patterns by Gregg Colburn; Clayton Page Aldern
Call Number: Ebook
ISBN: 0520383796
Publication Date: 2022
Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Homeless Children and Families in Small-Town America by Yvonne Vissing
Call Number: eBook
Publication Date: 1996
Ending Chronic Homelessness: Federal Strategy and the Role of Permanent Supportive Housing by Mya C. Perkins
Call Number: Ebook.
ISBN: 9781634850629
Publication Date: 2016
Permanent Supportive Housing: Evaluating the Evidence for Improving Health Outcomes among People Experiencing Chronic Homelessness by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Call Number: Ebook.
ISBN: :0309477077
Publication Date: 2018

Videos

TED Talks: A Practical Way to Help the Homeless Find Work and Safety By Richard Berry
TED Talks: An Escape From Poverty By Jacqueline Novogratz
Homelessness: The Housing First Approach Stream through Films on Demand
Obvious Poverty: America's Homeless Stream Online in Films on Demand
Homeless: A Teen Perspective Stream online in Films on Demand
Mental Health of Homeless and Runaway Youth "This study compares the mental health of youth who have experienced homelessness and run away, demonstrating the unique emotional health needs of these populations." 4-minute video.

The bigger picture

Who is affected by homelessness?

Homelessness can impact anyone and is a complex and complicated issue. The list below mentions just a few of the groups of people who are often most impacted by homelessness.

Youth, including LGBTQ youth, sometimes called runaway and throwaway youths
Families, including single parents with children
People with disabilities
People with mental illnesses
Veterans
The elderly

Organizations that help

Below are some links to organizations who help the homeless. These websites include statistics, reports, articles, fact-sheets and additional resources.

"Homeless Youth" from National Safe Place.org "Safe Place is a national youth outreach and prevention program for young people under the age of 18 (up to 21 years of age in some communities) in need of immediate help and safety."
The Trevor Project National organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. Homelessness resoures are listed on the Community page.
Mercy Housing.org "We serve families, seniors, and people with special needs with the full spectrum of affordable housing, including supportive housing for the formerly homeless, transitional housing, permanent rental, and affordable homeownership opportunities."
National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth
True Colors United "True Colors United implements innovative solutions to youth homelessness that focus on the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people."
Stand Up for Kids.org "StandUp for Kids is a nationally recognized non-profit charity that works directly with thousands of homeless youth across the country"
Youth Homelessness Overview - Raikes Foundation
Youth Care.org "YouthCare works to end youth homelessness and to ensure that young people are valued for who they are and empowered to achieve their potential."
Family Promise.org A " leading national nonprofit addressing the issue of family homelessness"
National Coalition for the Homeless
National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Find information, legislation, and more about homelessness, and housing programs for homeless veterans

Homelessness in the United States

State of Homelessness: 2023 Edition From the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Find current statistics on this interactive map, showing the status of homeless populations across the United States.
Homelessness Statistics by State From the United States interagency Council on Homelessness
Estimated rate of homelessness in the United States in 2020, by state

Sources on the web

Helpful homelessness-relief related organizations

Listed below are just some of the well known organizations working towards ending homelessness.

Homelessness in America - National Alliance to End Homelessness
"The National Alliance to End Homelessness is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose sole purpose is to end homelessness in the United States. "
United States Interagency Council on Homelessness
Find national statistics, programs, and more on this website.

Local Resources

See the linked websites below for just a few of the local, King County-focused resources

Housing, Homelessness and Community Development- King County
Find info on homelessless and housing programs in the King County area
2-1-1 Washington
"2-1-1 is a free confidential community service" that connects people to local services, "from utility assistance, food, housing, health, child care, after school programs, elder care, crisis intervention and much more."
United Way of King County: Volunteer Organizations
Organizations that have partnered with United Way King County are listed A-Z. The list can be filtered by various criteria, such as focus (e.g.: Homelessness & Housing).
Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) Referral Program
Washington state program that "provides access to essential needs items and potential rental assistance for low-income individuals who are unable to work for at least 90 days due to a physical and/or mental incapacity."

Additionally, there is a Homelessness and Hunger Research Guide with information regarding finding housing and food in the King and Pierce County area. Use the link below to access this guide.

Homelessness and Hunger Resource Guide
by Jody Segal Last Updated Apr 10, 2024 47 views this year

Last Updated: Apr 10, 2024 8:47 AM
URL: https://libguides.greenriver.edu/poverty
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Subjects: Diversity Studies, Economics