Homelessness

Homelessness is a situation in which a person does not have a permanent place of residence. This is distinguished from nomadic cultures in which that condition is considered normal. The problem of homelessness is most prevalent in the poor sections of large cities and suburbs.

Statistics for developed countries

The following statistics indicate the approximate average number of homeless people at any one time. Each country has a different approach to counting homeless people, so comparisons should be made with caution.

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:European Union: 3,000,000 (Unicef 1998)

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:United States: 750,000 (Unicef 1998)

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:Canada: 200,000 (CBC News December 1998)

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:Australia: 99, 000 (ABS: Homelessness)

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The number of homeless people worldwide has grown steadily in recent years. In some Third World nations such as Brazil, India, Nigeria, and South Africa, homelessness is rampant, with millions of children living and working on the streets. Homelessness has become a problem in the cities of China, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines despite their growing prosperity, mainly due to migrant workers who have trouble finding permanent homes and to rising income inequality between social classes.

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Australia

Homelessness should not be quantified as being without a house, it defines a state in which a person lacks a secure base to establish secure routines of living. The Australian Bureau of Statistics breaks this down into 5 groups: http://www.abs.gov.au

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• "rough sleepers" - people who are living outside
• Emergency shelters
• Temporarily residing with friends
• Boarding houses
• Trailer park residents