Here at Project PLASE I’m starting a new role as editor of our blog. I am PLASE’s Volunteer Coordinator, and one of the most important things to us at PLASE is that our volunteers learn about homelessness through their work with us. This blog seemed like a natural extension of that goal – we want everyone to be more aware of homelessness and how they can help end it.
Statistics about homelessness are grim. Since 2003 Baltimore has taken a census of its homeless population every two years. The most recent census was taken in 2009 and found 3,419 people were homeless on a single night in Baltimore. This was a 12% increase in the number of homeless since 2007.
2,265 (66%) of the 3,419 homeless were sheltered. Of this group, approximately 31% are chronically homeless, which means they have been homeless for a year or more or have experienced homelessness at least four times in the past three years. The major cause of homelessness was health, particularly substance abuse, but insufficient income and housing concerns were close behind.
The vast majority of Baltimore’s homeless are African-American men. However, the number of homeless women increased by 5% between 2007 and 2009. 28% of the homeless had a monthly income, with a median income of $637.00.
Working as the Volunteer Coordinator at an organization which serves the homeless has made me more reflective this winter. When my furnace stopped working briefly and my house got down to 52° I was miserable. But I have a responsible landlord who fixed the problem the same day. There are many others who live in terrible housing conditions and others with no housing at all who have spent this winter being very cold all the time. It would be easy to go around feeling guilty all the time for having more than others. But I remember being told once “Guilt isn’t a productive emotion.” So, don’t sit around feeling guilty. Be a part of the solution. Come volunteer with PLASE, or another organization that is making a difference in your community!
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