Human Impact THE RIPPLE EFFECT: What About the Children? According to Childtrends.org, “Children without stable homes are more than twice as likely as others to repeat a school grade, be expelled or suspended, or drop out of high school. A quarter or more of homeless children have witnessed violence, and more than half have problems with anxiety and depression. Family homelessness may result in children’s separation from their parents — either because children are formally placed in foster care, or because parents leave children in the care of relatives and friends.” The Atlanta Children’s Center states that there are approximately 2,500 homeless children in Atlanta on any given night. The average age of death of homeless persons is about 50 years, the age at which Americans commonly died in 1900. Today, non-homeless Americans can expect to live to age 78. People who are homeless have higher rates of illness and die on average 12 years sooner than the general U.S. population. Middle-aged homeless men and young homeless women are at particularly increased risk. Homeless people suffer the same illnesses experienced by people with homes, but at rates three to six times higher. This includes potentially lethal communicable diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and influenza, as well as cancer, heart disease, diabetes and hypertension. The New England Journal of Medicine states, “The role of social determinants of health, and the business case for addressing them, is immediately clear when it comes to homelessness and housing. The 1.5 million Americans who experience homelessness in any given year face numerous health risks and are disproportionately represented among the highest users of costly hospital-based acute care. Placing people who are homeless in supportive housing — affordable housing paired with supportive services such as on-site case management and referrals to community-based services — can lead to improved health, reduced hospital use, and decreased health care costs, especially when frequent users of health services are targeted. These benefits add to the undeniable human benefit of moving people from homelessness into housing.” 1 1 Kelly M. Doran, M.D., M.H.S., Elizabeth J. Misa, M.P.A., and Nirav R. Shah, M.D., M.P.H. "Housing as Health Care — New York's Boundary-Crossing Experiment." New England Journal of Medicine. December 19, 2014. Housing is Job Stability Getting to work can be difficult for any of us. It is estimated that 44% of people facing homelessness have jobs (National Coalition for the Homelessness - NCH). However, imagine trying to build your career after sleeping in your car, getting inadequate and interrupted sleep, having to return to your home by a certain time to be assured a bed, or having to separate from your family or children to be able to even have a place to sleep. The odds of success would not be in your favor. For the individuals who are not yet employed, the obstacles to job hunting can quickly become insurmountable. They include: Lack of access to transportation Bad credit Missing identification documents Low educational attainment levels Criminal histories Having young children with no access to child care Limited or no past work experience or marketable job skills Mental health or substance abuse problems Chronic health problems or disability There is dignity in a paycheck. Steady, sustainable housing changes employment opportunities drastically, enabling individuals to reach their goal of self-sufficiency. 404.371.1230 INFO@CARINGWORKSINC.ORG 2785 LAWRENCEVILLE HWY, SUITE #205 DECATUR, GEORGIA 30033 ABOUT OUR IMPACT PROGRAMS GET HELP DONATE © 2021 CaringWorks, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Site Managed by Idea Associates, Inc.