According to a state study, on any given day there are 800 men, women and children who are homeless in North Dakota. About 20 percent are considered to be long-term homeless, meaning they have not had a permanent place to live for a year or more, or have had four or more episodes of homelessness in the past three years.

Common links to homelessness are poverty, poor job skills, inadequate education, serious health conditions, mental illness and chemical dependency, according to a study done on homelessness in North Dakota.

The average length of homelessness is 1.8 years. Among the long-term homeless, it averages 4.1 years.

n The majority of North Dakota's homeless population continues to be single individuals. However, the number of persons with families with children is nearly 24 percent, up 5 percent from 2005.

n Nearly 60 percent of North Dakota's adult homeless population are male. The average age of homeless men is 40.4 years old. The average age of homeless women is 34.3. The average homeless child is 6.2 years old.

n Chronic and long-term homeless are more likely than most homeless to be veterans, have medical problems, have a history of substance abuse, be unemployed and be unable to afford rent.

n Permanent housing and transportation were identified as the two most difficult services for homeless to access.

Five strategies listed in the statewide plan against homelessness are:

n Develop permanent statewide housing.

n Improve the ability to pay rent.

n Expand supportive services for wraparound housing.

n Strengthen preventive outreach programs.

n Collect disseminate data relating to long-term homelessness.