This past week we spent our time looking and researching statistics and percentages on the causes of homelessness. There are an incredible amount of things that can result in a person becoming homeless. But from looking at our graph we put up on the screen, it was clear that the number one cause of homelessness was from losing a job/financial struggles. I then decided to search a bit more research and see what I can find about this situation. One of the websites that I have found is a website that is dedicated to the homeless issue in Hillsborough County, Florida (found below). Here they talk about the variety of issues that cause homelessness, but focus mainly on the financial situation. They found from asking during their 2011 homeless count that nearly 50% of the homeless who answered were out there due to employment/financial reasons. This is huge because nearly a fourth to a half (ranging differently in other areas) are out on the street because they are not able to afford housing. On this website they put a chart up which displays the amount needed per hour to afford housing in their city. For a 0 bedroom apt it is $714 while for a 1 bedroom apt it is $793 respectively. To make enough to pay rent, the money earned an hour would have to be $13.73 for 0 bedroom apt. and $15.25 for 1 bedroom apt. Making minimum wage or even a little above, or not even having a job at all is a huge problem to trying to make enough to make rent. There needs to be a way where there can be more affordable housing available to all so people are not forced out to live on the streets.

http://www.homelessofhc.org/~homeless/index.php/get-educated-information-homelessness/causes-of-homelessness