New York and Philadelphia shelter system data indicates the person most likely to become homeless in either city is an African American child under 5. The Washington D.C.-based advocacy group is a network of activists, service providers, and homeless people. Nan Roman, president of another Washington-based advocacy group, the National Alliance to End Homelessness, agrees. We're seeing more families and people who have incomes, either from work or benefits, who just can't afford housing. In addition to rising prices, less housing is available now.
Roman says affordable housing is being destroyed to make room for neighborhood renewal efforts.
As public housing projects are demolished, cities replace them with fewer units than before. Voucher programs to help poor people rent from private tenants have helped, she adds, but she doesn't know how much. I would guess a loss. The destruction of affordable housing is one factor that sets this increase apart from the rise in homelessness of the 1980s, but the 1996 welfare reform provisions will prove even more influential, Stoops believes. No one is prepared for that.