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HOMELESSNESS:

• Approximately 2,000 Brevard County residents are homeless on any given night 30% of the homeless are families with minor children. The primary causes of homelessness are poverty and the shortage of affordable housing. The recent hurricanes made a serious impact upon Florida's housing stock.
• Factors that contribute to homelessness include unemployment, family breakups, domestic violence, physical and mental disabilities, health problems.

WORK:

• Women are almost twice as likely as men to work part time-that is, fewer than 35 hours per week.
• In 2005, about 61 percent of employed women were part-time workers, compared with only 39 percent of employed men.
• An increase of 39 percent in displaced homemakers and single mothers has happened over the past 10 years with 48 percent employed and only 58 percent of those that are employed are above poverty level.
• Approximately 58 percent of homemakers and nearly two thirds of single mothers do not have an education beyond a high school diploma or a GED.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE:

• Domestic Violence accounts for approximately 35% of all emergency room visits by women with injuries. (Randall T. Journal of the AMA 'Domestic Violence Calls For More Than Treating Injuries' 1992)
• Domestic Violence is the leading cause of injury to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the United States. It's more common than automobile accidents, muggings and rapes combined. (Uniform Crime Reports, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 1991)
• 80% of all violent juvenile offenders and adult prisoners came from homes where domestic violence occurred. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)
• Injuries battered women receive are at least as serious as injuries suffered in 90% of violent felony crimes, yet under state laws, they are almost always classified as misdemeanors. (National Coalition Against Domestic Violence)

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE:

• Since 2004 the number of single mother in Brevard County has almost doubled. Many have no child support, employment, or transportation and will be seeking financial assistance from local agencies for rent, utilities, food, and baby supplies.
• Approximately 2,000 Brevard County residents are homeless each night
• Average of 5 clients a day seek financial assistance at the Women's Center to avoid eviction
• Lack of sufficient funds permits assistance for only 3 clients a WEEK
• Lack of funds for financial assistance results in more people becoming homeless
• Insufficient funds for the Women's Center prevents payment of utility termination notices
• In some instances, non-payment of utility bills results in an eviction notice
• No funds are available for childcare which means the mother cannot work and therefore cannot pay her bills and will become homeless
• 55 clients have been on the car waiting list since January of 2005
• Lack of funds to repair donated automobiles results in the client not being able to have transportation for work, therefore, is unable to hold a job and earn money to pay bills, resulting in homelessness