HappySqurriel on 30 November 2011
I'm not convinced that this is nearly as big of a problem as you seem to think it is ...
While it could be improved, there are many highly effective charities that are focused on providing food, clothing and shelter for the homeless. Hypothetically speaking, if the reduction in funding from the government is well publicised these charities will probably see substantially higher revenues and (due to how much more efficient they are compared to the government) they may be able to completely cover the reduction in services from the government's withdrawal.
Just looking at a local shelter's annual statement ...
- 559,944 meals served
- 40 units of new affordable housing purchased
- 28,747 distributions of clothing and personal items
- Provided shelter to an average of 260 people each night.
- 189 people moved into homes of their own
- 7,994 food hampers distributed
... and this was based on a budget of a little over $20,000,000 of which only 25% was government funding, and their cost breakdown is:
- Program costs $16,348,199 (79%)
- Facility and technology $1,781,269 (9%)
- Administration $1,008,580 (5%)
- Resource development $1,063,264 (5%)
- Amortization $425,014 (2%)
