Research Paper on:
Overview of Homelessness, Families, and Children

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
2000, p.162) of this population according to the National Coalition for the Homeless . The majority, or more accurately more than 90% (2000, p.162) of such families have a  single female at the head of the household. Further children make up about one fourth of the homeless population, and homeless families with children are a group for whom  shelters and other services seem to be lacking or otherwise not obtainable (Bassuk, Birk, & Liftik, 1994 as cited in (Strawser, Markos, Yamaguchi & Higgins, 2000). Statistics from  Massachusetts for example also show dismal numbers regarding the homeless. In Massachusetts, the number of homeless families increased 100 % ("Massachusetts," 2002, p.PG) between 1990 and 1998 as it went  from 5,000 to 10,000 (2002, p.PG) families. As one looks at statistics, it does become clear that those who are suffering the most are women and children, the group  that society claims to want to take care of, but a group that seems to be at the bottom of the food chain. Perhaps a look at causes of  homelessness will help to illuminate the reasons why homelessness seems to prefer certain age and gender categories. The most significant reason for homelessness is poverty and this generally affects  families in their ability to obtain affordable housing and maintain sufficient income to support modest lifestyles(Strawser, Markos, Yamaguchi & Higgins, 2000). However, there is a stereotype of the homeless  as associated with unemployment and transiency, but many surveys have found that at least 20% (Waxman & Trupin, 1997 as cited in Strawser, Markos, Yamaguchi & Higgins,2000, p.162) of  the homeless persons are employed . Still, that means that about 80% are unemployed. One may conclude that in general, the homeless has limited economic resources (2000). This