Facts and figures

A couple of weeks ago Claire requested that I share some stats to educate you all about the makeup of the homeless population. While I have to sheepishly admit that I don't know the national numbers, I can at least give you an idea of the situation here in Indy.

Approximately 15,000 will be homeless here this year.

The average length of homelessness = 7 months

The number one cause of homelessness = lack of affordable housing (the living wage and minimum wages simply don't match up).

One in four are veterans. Most are Vietnam-era. We're already seeing Iraq war veterans.

One in three are women.

The number one cause of homelessness in families is domestic violence.

People of all ages are homeless. One agency in town has a neonatal care unit for the homeless. The need for such a unit was shocking to me.

The average age of a homeless child in the U.S. is six.

On any given night, 3,000 to 3,500 people are homeless.

Night shelters don't have to accept overflow until the temperature reaches 32 degrees.

There's more. I could go on. But that's probably enough to digest for now.