SOCIAL ENTERPRISES AND HOMELESSNESS
1. Tackling Issues
• It is estimated that an average of 2,800 people is homeless each night in Baltimore city
• Lack of affordable housing, poor healthcare, low income and services are contributing factors to the growing
homeless rate
• Chronic illness, substance abuse, mental illness, and physical disabilities are additional contributing factors
for homelessness
2. Contributing Factors Further Explained
• Baltimore is poor: more than half of residents live 200% below poverty line
• Lack of transitional programs targeting low income neighborhoods
• Lack of money spent to improve neighborhoods, providing safe environments for residents—creates perfect
environment for substance abuse, drug selling, other illegal activities
• Poor residential households, poor school systems that do not promote upward mobilization creating a
systematic poverty cycle
• Over 90% residents have Medicaid/ Medicare, insurance does not cover all cost or provide needed care ie.
Rehabilitation for drug users, half-way houses, shelters
