Based on a survey of over 900 emergency food and shelter providers in 32 states, the following factors emerged as the primary causes of homelessness and hunger in America,:

Primary Causes of Homelessness
• Unemployment/ Job Loss 71%
• Low Incomes 70%
• High Housing Cost 61%
• Substance Abuse/ Addiction 59%
• Mental Illness 48%
• Domestic Violence 38%
• Lack of Government Benefits 33%
• Poor Education 29%
• Physical Illness 24%
• Cost of Health Care 18%
• Cost of Childcare 8%

Primary Causes of Hunger
• Low Incomes 81%
• Unemployment/ Job Loss 76%
• High Housing Cost 46%
• Substance Abuse/ Addiction 44%
• Lack of Government Benefits 37%
• Poor Education 30%
• Mental Illness 29%
• Cost of Health Care 27%
• Physical Illness 22%
• Cost of Childcare 20%
• Domestic Violence 18%
• Racial Discrimination 5%

*Source: “Communities in Crisis: Survey of Hunger & Homelessness in America,” National Student Campaign Against Hunger & Homelessness; February 2005; www.studentsagainsthunger.org