The homeless make up a growing percentage of America's population.     1    homelessness has reached such proportions that local governments can't possibly     2    . To help homeless people     3    independence, the federal government must support job training programs     4    the mini—mum wage, and fund more lowcost housing.     5    everyone agrees on the number of Americans who are homeless. Estimates     6    anywhere from 600,000 to 6 million.     7    the figure may vary, analysts do agree on another matter: that the number of the homeless is     8    .
    One of the federal government's studies     9    that the number of the homeless will reach nearly 19 million by the end of this decade. Finding ways to     10    this growing homeless population has become increasingly difficult.     11    when homeless Individuals manage to find a     12    that will give them three meals a day and a place to sleep at night, a good number still spend the bulk of each day     13    the street.
    Part of the problem is that many homeless adults are addicted to alcohol or drugs. And a significant number of the homeless have serious mental disorders. Many others     14    not addicted or mentally ill, simply lack the everyday     15    skills needed to turn their lives     16    . Boston Globe reporter Chris Reidy notes that the situation will improve only when there are     17    programs that address the many needs of the homeless,     18    Edward Zlotkowski, director of community service at Bentley College in Massachusetts,     19    it, "There has to be     20    of programs. What's needed is a package deal."