What are the statistics of people becoming homeless?

//www.walkforthehomeless.net/Why_Do_%20People_Become_Homeless.htm
  -Poverty is a common thread for nearly everyone who experiences homelessness.
 -As more people become poor, more people become at risk of homelessness.
 -According to the US Census Bureau, 43.6 million people were in poverty in the year of 2009.

http://pathprogram.samhsa.gov/Resource/View.aspx?id=46121&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1
 Discrimination- Racial discrimination limits their access to employment, their educational success, and their ability to access the services they need.

 Homophobia- Research shows that between 20-30% of young homeless people are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered. This discrimination, which is often related with violence, may make staying at home uncomfortable, and forces many people to end up on the streets.

http://www.camillushouse.org/camillus_resources/homelessness.php
 -People who are homeless are unable to pay for housing, food, child care, health care, and education.
 -In 2000, 11.3% of the U.S. population, or 31.1 million people, lived in poverty.
-Families and individuals who struggle to pay rent, a serious illness or disability can cause homelessness  
         -beginning with a lost job,
         -no amount of savings to pay for care
         -eviction.
-Nearly a third of persons living in poverty had no health insurance of any kind.

http://www.safehorizon.org/index/what-we-do-2/helping-youth-14/streetwork-homeless-youth-facts-220.html?gclid=CMKvlKbl0q8CFYHc4Aodo1EavA
- According to a 2002 federal study, approximately 1.7 million younger people are living out in the streets.
-Children under 18 years of age accounted for 39% of the homeless population.
-Almost half of the 39% of homeless people were younger than age 5.

Summary Paragraph: Poverty is one of the most common reasons as to why people experience homelessness. According to the 2010 Census data, 14.3% of people nationwide are living in poverty.  As more people become poor, more people become at risk of homelessness. The number of people living in extreme poverty has increased over the years. People who are homeless are most likely unable to pay for housing, food, child care, health care, and education. 40%  of people living in poverty are children. The world's homeless population increased by about 20,000 people from 2008 to 2009. There are difficult choices that have to be made when you are at risk of homelessness. According to a 2002 federal study, 39% of the homeless population were children under 18 years old. Almost half of these homeless children were younger than age 5. Younger people are at a higher risk of becoming homeless if their parents are using drugs, have mental health problems, if there is child abuse involved or child neglect in the home. Children who have been in foster care are also at a higher risk of becoming homeless. While most people experiencing homelessness are sheltered, nearly 4 out of 10  people were living on the street, or living in their cars.