Support Legislation to help Those Living In Poverty

The United States of America, and the city of Cincinnati is facing startling facts and statistics about citizens living in poverty and facing homelessness. For example:

United States:
- Approximately 45,000 Americans die each year because of lack of health insurace (Harvard University 2009).
- The average age of a homeless person is 9 (Project Connect).
- 3.5 million Americans experience homelessness in a given year (National Coalition for the Homeless).
- From 1999 through 2006, there were 614 documented hate crimes against homeless people, with 189 of those resulting in death (Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless).
- No one earning minimum wage in any US state can afford a one or two-bedroom apartment at Fair Market Rent (HUD).
- Federal funding for low-income housing fell 56% from 1976 to 2007 (National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty).

Cincinnati:
- Between 1,300 and 1,500 people are homeless every night (Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless).
- In 2004, Cincinnati was named the 4th meanest city in the nation towards the homeless because of the laws against homeless individuals (National Coalition for the Homeless)
- In Cincinnati, a person working a minimum wage job must work 72 hours a week in order to afford a two bedroom apartment at fair market rent and have it still be considered affordable by the government (HUD).
- 60% of homeless men in Cincinnati work at least part-time and almost 60% of homeless men here are high school graduates; almost 5% have college degrees (Cincinnati Coalition for the Homeless).
- Over 8 Cincinnati communities opted out of the Cincinnati Metropolitan Housing Authority's agreement to allow new public housing units in the county’s suburbs (Cincinnati Enquirer)