The Top Five Myths About Homelessness
There are many myths surrounding homelessness which create barriers that actually prevent some people from overcoming their situation. The truth is most people who are homeless have simply fallen on hard times due to loss of a job or a medical condition which prevents them from earning enough to afford proper housing. Below is a list of the top five myths surrounding homelessness in Yakima County and the facts (gathered from the 2010 Point in Time survey) which refute them.
The 2010 Point in Time Survey found 1,191 individuals living in Yakima County who did not have permanent shelter, of those 298 were under the age of 18.
According to information gathered during Point in Time Surveys since 2006, the increase in shelters and advocacy programs for those without adequate housing has not brought about an increase in that population. In fact, with the exception of 2009, the unsheltered homeless population in Yakima County has decreased every year since 2006.
The 2010 Point in Time Survey found 64% of those surveyed wanted to work but were not able to find a due to lack of training or a disability which prevented them from working.
According to the Interagency Council to End Homelessness many people are living paycheck to paycheck and loss of a job would mean they would be unable to pay rent. The 2008 "Getting Paid in America" survey found that 71 percent of American employees live paycheck to paycheck. That figure was up from 67 percent in 2007.
Based on the current minimum wage and the average cost of rental housing in Yakima, a minimum wage employee would have to work 96-hours just to pay for housing. As of November 2010 there was just a 3.7-percent availability of rental housing in the City of Yakima. The lack of available rentals has made it difficult for just about anyone in Yakima to find adequate housing.