Homeless people in US surpass 47 Turkish cities

The number of homeless people in the US is more than the population of 47 cities in Turkey, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency.

In the US, there were approximately 550,000 homeless people last year, according to the country’s Department of Housing and Urban Development.

While this number is higher than the population of Turkey’s eastern city of Agri in 2016, it is nearly seven-fold of eastern city of Tunceli’s population, the Turkish Statistical Institute data shows.

Out of the 550,000 homeless in the US, 355,000 were individuals — more than the population of Kirklareli — and 195,000 were families with children, which is more than the population of Igdir or Bartin.

Poverty and unemployment are the major reasons for homelessness in the country with the world’s biggest economy, according to the Salvation Army. Lack of affordable housing, poor physical or mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, gambling, family and relationship breakdown, as well as domestic violence are other reasons.

Read: Turkey accuses US, UK of harming its economy