Page 1
Page 2
Page 3
Page 4
Page 5
Page 6
Page 7
Page 8
Page 9
Page 10
Page 11
Page 12
Page 13
Page 14
Page 15
Page 16
Page 17
Page 18
Page 19
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 23
Page 24
Page 25
Page 26
Page 27
Page 28
Page 29
Page 30
Page 31
Page 32
Page 33
Page 34
Page 35
Page 36
Page 37
Page 38
Page 39
Page 40
Page 41
Page 42
Page 43
Page 44
Page 45
Page 46
Page 47
Page 48
Page 49
Page 50
Page 51
Page 52
Page 53
Page 54
Page 55
Page 56
Page 57
Page 58
Page 59
Page 60
Page 61
Page 62
Page 63
Page 64
million Americans more than 50 percent of their salaries go toward renting or housing costs resulting in sacrifices in other essential areas like health care and savings. Even if people can find work this does not automatically provide an escape from poverty according to NCH. The same situation exists in Canada as well accord- ing to the Homelessness Resource Center. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD in recent years the shortages of affordable housing are most severe for units affordable to renters with extremely low incomes. About 200000 rental housing units are destroyed each year yet renting is one of the most viable options for low-income people according to the Joint Center for Housing Studies. Declining wages have put housing out of reach for many workers In every state more than the minimum wage is required to afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty estimates that up to 25 percent of homeless people are employed but still cant afford housing. DECLINE IN PUBLIC ASSISTANCE A ccording to NCH Housing assistance can make the difference between stable housing precarious housing or no hous- ing at all. However the demand for assisted housing clearly exceeds the supply Only about one-third of poor renter households receive a housing subsidy from the federal state or a local government. Limited housing assistance means excessively long waiting lists for assistanceoften stretching several years before help is available. Even so the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program TANF has not kept up with inflation. Most states have not replaced the old welfare system with an alternative that enables families and individuals to obtain above-poverty employment and to sustain themselves when work is not available or possible NCH reports. Current TANF benefits and food stamps com- bined are below the poverty level in every state according to Homeless Resource Network. The median TANF benefit for a family of three is approximately one-third of the poverty level. Today just one in four eligible households gets federal rental assistance while rents keep rising income stagnates and a record number of families are paying more than what they can afford according to Think Progress. Its a good thing I hadnt looked into these issues before Roy asked why people choose to be homeless. Of course part of the answer is that few people truly choose to be homeless. And the complexity of the causes doesnt provide any easy solutions to battling or ending homelessness. Add in that many homeless people also face sig- nificant spiritual battles and you can understand why individuals like Roy want to know why. WWW.AGRM.ORGMARCHAPRIL 2016 17 Kristi Rescues managing editor has been a maga- zine writer and editor for 20 years as well as a contributing author for devotionals and curricu- lum. She and her husband Jess are the parents of three children. Email her at kristiwritesgmail.com. Declining wages have put housing out of reach for many workers In every state more than the minimum wage is required to afford a one- or two-bedroom apartment at fair market rent.