Aren’t the homeless all alcoholics, mentally ill or drug addicts?
Fewer than 10% of the families HFH serve are homeless due to a mental illness and none of the families we serve are homeless due to substance abuse. Mental illness and substance abuse are more of a factor in the single adult homeless population. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, (http://www.endhomelessness.org)families typically become homeless as a result of some unforeseen financial crisis that prevents them from being able to hold on to housing. The families we serve often have lost a job, have poor support systems, damaged credit and low skill sets resulting in low wage earnings. Medical illness and domestic violence are also issues for many families.
