The lack of affordable housing has been identified as the major factor contributing to homelessness in every major study of the issue conducted since 1986.

Physical Disability: Profound injuries, illness or birth defects. Socially debilitating physical traits such as disfigurement, dental deficiencies, or obesity.

Developmental Difficulties: Low IQ or traumatic head injury that hinders intellectual functioning.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder: A history of domestic violence, abuse, combat, catastrophic loss of family, among other causes.

Educational Deficiencies: The inability to read and write, lack of basic education skills or no high school diploma.

Learning Disabilities: Dyslexia, ADD and other disorders, which interfere with educational, and life functioning.

Addictions: Drugs, alcohol, sex, gambling and other addictions.

Severe Family Dysfunction: Abusive parents, broken homes, multiple residences/caregivers.

No Family or Significant Support System: Total lack of family support due to death, alienation, or institutionalized childhood

Criminal History: The existence of a criminal record that seriously limits opportunity.

Limited Occupational Skill Set: The inability to do anything beyond the most basic manual labor.

Life Skill Deficiency: The inability to manage the most basic life functions such as hygiene, housing, transportation, finances and relationships.

Transportation Deficiencies: The inability to purchase, maintain, insure or legally drive a car or obtain transportation through public or private means.

Prior Long Term Institutionalization: An extended stay in juvenile institutions, mental hospitals, prison or other institution.

Generational Poverty: Two or more generations dependent on public assistance or charity for basic living needs that has fostered an attitude of helplessness.

Metro Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell recently appointed a Mayor's Taskforce to End Chronic Homelessness in 2004. The eleven-member taskforce includes representatives from city social service agencies, nonprofit agencies that serve homeless people, and formerly homeless people. The city's target is to eliminate chronic homelessness by 2015.

Nashville joins 170 other U.S. cities in the nationwide campaign. Mayor Purcell's plan calls for spending $74,000,000 to provide supportive housing from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Member organizations of the Nashville Coalition for the Homeless and the city government are coordinating services provided to the estimated 9,000 homeless people estimated annually in Nashville.

The city government has estimated that a comprehensive plan to eliminate chronic homelessness may cost $10,000 for a single homeless person. Based upon the 2004 homeless count tally, the price tag for homeless services could total $20 million annually. The city's plan involves increasing housing options, expanding health care services and implementing job training. Better coordination of existing programs offered by Metro and nonprofit service providers is also proposed.

The Nashville Rescue Mission is spending $7.3 million this year to help an estimated 6,500 men, women and children. Services at the Mission include overnight shelter and three meals daily, work therapy, life-recovery and education programs, and Christian education and daily worship. The Mission does not take government funding.

The state of Tennessee is also cooperating with a federal campaign to eliminate chronic homelessness. Governor Phil Bredesen signed an executive order in December 2004 that created the Governor's Interagency Council on Homelessness. President George W. Bush initiated the national strategy, which is coordinated by the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness.

Homelessness in Tennessee is estimated at 10,000 men, women and children on any given night. During the next 10 years, the state plans to improve the coordination of and access to housing, health, education and human service programs in cities and rural areas.