During the walkabout, the group saw homeless persons from, it appeared, each ethnic and racial demographic while visiting Civic Center Park. There were children (single mothers and entire families), adolescents, seniors, and couples. The group also learned that the homeless population, in general, is diverse in terms of age, education, former status. For instance, one of the youngest homeless persons housed at the Costa Mesa Motor Inn, under CHAT-H, was 9-days-old. At least two guests at Isaiah House were in their 80's. There were also homeless people who had earned college degrees many years before becoming homeless; however, there was one person the group we spoke to who earned a degree while homeless. He graduated with a 3.8 G.P.A.
Their reasons for being homeless were as diverse as their population and ran the gamut from mental illness, addiction, inability to pay rent or mortgage, unemployment, medical condition that made it impossible to work or exhausted their savings. There were others who were homeless due to criminal records or violation of parole or probation that forced them out of their homes.
Social workers will need to find solutions that will address a diverse homeless population.
References
U.S. Census Bureau (2000). Retrieved August 31, 2008 from
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