Our Families
Homelessness shows no prejudice and can happen to all types of people from all walks of life. Families with children account for nearly half of the total homeless population in Indianapolis each year. Any series of unfortunate events could cause a family to become homeless.:
- Young mothers with children flee a domestic violence situation.
- Persistent medical problem leads to unemployment.
- An unexpected fire takes everything a family owns.
- Or, a family has simply fallen on hard times.
“Homelessness is growing in Indianapolis especially for families with children. On any given night, over 3,700 children are homeless in central Indiana. Poverty and the lack of affordable housing are cited as the principal causes of family homelessness.”
Effects on Families
Homelessness is devastating for families. It disrupts virtually every aspect of family life and can tear families apart. From the 150 families seeking assistance at Dayspring Center each year:
- 60% are single mothers with 2 children under the age of 5
- 10% are single fathers with their children
- 30% are two parent families with 2 or more children
- 60% are working but earn less than $5,600 a year
Effects on Children
- Homeless children are twice as likely to be in fair to poor health.
- They have higher rates of asthma and ear infections.
- They are more likely to have stomach, speech and mental health problems.
- They are less likely to be immunized.
- They are twice as likely to know hunger.
- They are four times as likely to fall behind their school peers in education and social development.
Dayspring Center believes in family and works to keep the family intact so they may work together to end their homelessness. In addition to meeting their basic needs, Dayspring also empowers parents and children with the life skills and tools needed to affect permanent change so they may become a healthy, independent family again.
The Facts on Homelessness
- Families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population in Indiana today.
- 40% of the 15,000 people who become homeless in Indianapolis each year live in families with children.
- While the public often perceives homelessness as a problem that involves single men, children and youth make up about 30% of the local homeless population.
- The average age of a homeless person in the United States is 7 years old.
- One in five homeless adults is a veteran.
- Four out of ten homeless adults on any given night have children with them.
- Many homeless people work, but most have extremely low incomes earning less than 30% of Marion County median family income.
- In about 62,000 Indianapolis households, adult heads of households spent half or more of their incomes on rent or mortgage payments.
- Among respondents who were homeless, three out of four had been homeless more than once.
