Current 2010 breakdown of homeless families seeking shelter through DSS in Baltimore County:
91% are headed by a female single parent
6% are headed by two parents
2% are headed by a male single parent
Of the 6,303 homeless people in Baltimore County, Maryland, 70% are women and children.
In most areas, including Baltimore County, there are more people in need of shelter than available beds. In FY08 8,728 people were turned away from shelters.
It costs approximately $37,200 to shelter a family of 4 for one year. In comparison, to rent a 2 bedroom apartment costs approximately $13,000 per year. (The costs of supporting a family of four for one year at the Night of Peace Family Shelter is approximately $29,200, lower than the average)
A minimum wage worker earning $6.55/hour in Maryland would need to work 155 hours per week in order to afford a 2 bedroom unit.
Sources:
National Coalition for the Homeless, July 1998
Baltimore County Point In Time Survey, 2008
National Coaltition for the Homeless, July 2008
Baltimore County Communities for the Homeless
Photo Courtesy of Coalition for the Homeless *The picture above is NOT apart of Night of Peace Family Shelter, but a snap shot into overcrowded homeless shelters around the county.
