Housing and Urban Development Secretary Andrew Cuomo released the report, which is the most comprehensive study ever of homelessness in America. Assistance programs can replace the nightmare of homelessness with the American Dream of a better future. The study shows homelessness is associated with a broad range of problems. Homeless people are among the poorest in the nation, with incomes averaging half the federal poverty level. Health and disability problems are common among homeless people.
Homeless people have low educational levels.
This makes it harder for homeless people to get jobs. Baldwin is participating in HUD's December to Remember campaign, which is encouraging pledges by the private sector, non-profit groups and individuals to help homeless people. But it also shows that if we give homeless people a helping hand they can come back and turn their lives around. Baldwin pointed out that the cost of homeless assistance is substantially less than the cost of putting homeless people in jail to get them off the streets. The study issued today was designed and funded by 12 federal agencies under the auspices of the Interagency Council on the Homeless, which is chaired by Cuomo.