Homelessness in Bucks County is not what you might think.

Traveling through much of Bucks County it is hard to imagine that homelessness exists in such a bucolic setting. But while it may be invisible; poverty, hunger and homelessness are the reality for far too many families living in Bucks County.

Homelessness is more than not having a place to live; it is an experience of absolute disconnectedness from society as whole. Domestic violence, inadequate education, minimum-wage jobs, lack of affordable housing, mental health issues, drug and alcohol problems are all contributing factors to homelessness. Why homelessness, poverty and hunger occur may be important but developing viable alternatives for those whose lives are devastated from these experiences is far more imperative.

The primary cause of homelessness is a lack of housing that very low-income people can afford. Over 5 million low-income families pay half their income for housing or live in severely substandard conditions. In no jurisdiction in the United States does a minimum wage job provide enough income for a house hold to afford rent for a modest apartment.

Bucks County statistics closely reflect national trends. There were 1,150 documented cases of homelessness in the county but this number does not reflect the hundreds of individuals that may not be officially counted -- living on the street or sharing overcrowded housing with friends or relatives.

99% of the homeless population in Bucks County is families with children. 85% of the documented cases represented single mothers with children and an astonishing 625 of those 1,150 homeless individuals - well over half of the total number -- were children under the age of 12.

Single adults or couples without children only comprise 1% of the homeless population in the county.

Did you know...

Bucks County ranks amongst the wealthiest counties in the state with a median annual income of $63,300, an impressive distinction that may leave one wondering who could be homeless in such an affluent area?

Nearly 1,200 people came through the county's seven homeless shelters and transitional housing programs in 2001, 85% of who are single women with children . There are a multitude of reasons why a woman finds herself in a homeless situation, ranging from loss of employment to fleeing an abuser, but perhaps one of the largest contributors to homelessness in Bucks County is the lack of affordable housing.

Bucks County has one of the lowest rates of available housing in Pennsylvania.

In 2000, Bucks County had a total housing stock of 224,600 units, but just 3,479, or 1.5 percent, of those were available for sale or rent in 2000 .

Housing in Bucks County is not affordable.

In Pennsylvania, an extremely low income household (earning $15,940, 30% of the Area Median Income of $53,134) can afford monthly rent of no more than $399, while the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit is $671. In Bucks County, an extremely low income household (earning $18,990, 30% of the Area Median Income of $63,300) can afford monthly rent of no more than $475, while the Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom unit is $871.

A minimum wage earner (earning $5.15 per hour) can afford monthly rent of no more than $268.

A family receiving a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) cash grant ($420/month for a family with one adult and two children) can afford monthly rent of no more than $126.

A Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipient (receiving $572 monthly) can afford monthly rent of no more than $172, while the Fair Market Rent for a one-bedroom unit is $548.

In Pennsylvania, a worker earning the Minimum Wage ($5.15 per hour) must work 100 hours per week in order to afford a two-bedroom unit at the area's Fair Market rent. In Bucks County, this increases to 130 hours per week.

The Housing Wage in Pennsylvania is $12.90, for Bucks County the Housing Wage is $16.75. This is the amount a full time (40 hours per week) worker must earn per hour in order to afford a two-bedroom unit at the area's Fair Market rent. This is 251% of the minimum wage ($5.15 per hour). Between 2001 and 2002 the two bedroom housing wage increased by 3.46%.

Are you interested in learning more about homelessness in our country?

Click on the links below for in-depth analysis of the systemic causes of poverty, hunger and homelessness in the United States and what strategies are being developed to end homelessness.

www.endhomelessness.org

www.nationalhomeless.org

www.hud.gov/homeless/index.cfm

www.wikipedia.com

ARE YOU IN NEED OF SHELTER?

IF YOU ARE IN DANGER OF BECOMING HOMELESS IMMEDIATELY PLEASE CALL THE HOMELESS HOTLINE
1-800-810-4434

If you are currently living doubled up or in hotel and have children younger than 18 years and are interested in our Supportive Housing Programs (shelters) the information below will be helpful.

Since the program is a second-step program and cannot accommodate emergencies, the first requirement is to have the client's case worker from one of the following agencies contact a Housing Group case manager to make an intake referral:

American Red Cross Homeless Shelter of Lower Bucks

A Woman's Place

Bucks County Children and Youth Agency

Catholic Social Services.

This process is in place to insure that each family has had an opportunity to work with other housing continuum agencies to address some of the issues that may have contributed to their current status.

Once referred to the Housing Group through one of these organizations, the client will be required to schedule an intake appointment with one of the Housing Group's supportive housing case managers. At this appointment, the case manager will explain the program in detail. The case manager will review the organization's mission, policies and procedures, and the Supportive Housing Program's expectations and goals. (Ex-clients of the Housing Group may contact one of the shelters for an intake appointment directly.)

Upon completion of the intake procedure, the client will be placed on a waiting list until a shelter housing unit becomes available. There is one waiting list for all five supportive housing program sites. The wait can be four to six months in duration. When waiting for an available unit, clients are required to contact the case manager at the specific shelter site on a weekly basis to remain on the active waiting list. These weekly phone contacts are to insure the continued need for housing and to inform the program case manager of any changes or problems that may have occurred. Once a unit becomes available, the case manager will contact the client to schedule a move-in date.

Clients must be referred to the program following the above outlined process and meet the requirements below:

The family must consist of at least one adult over 18 years of age and at least one child under the age of 18 in the adult's custody.

The family must be homeless, as defined by the federal Stewart McKinney Homeless Assistance Act ((1) an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and (2) an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is-- (A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill); (B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or (C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.)

The client must also be willing to create and follow a realistic plan toward self-sufficiency.

To schedule an intake, please contact one of the Bucks County Housing Group's shelters:

Penndel: 215-750- 4344

Doylestown: 215-345-1492

Morrisville: 215-736-0107

Milford Square: 215-538-9383

Or our main office in Wrightstown: 215-598-3566
Or email: info@bchg.org