Marguerite Cassandra Toroian, a dedicated leader in the finance industry, is a former research analyst at Emerald Asset Management in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Alongside her work in finance, Marguerite Cassandra Toroian has a deep concern for people who are homeless. She sits on the board of a local shelter for the homeless.
Living outside of an urban area in the United States does not mean a person is immune to the problem of homelessness. Estimates are that 7 percent of the country’s homeless live in rural areas.
People who are homeless in rural areas are sometimes referred to as the “hidden homeless” since they are less visible than people who are homeless in urban areas. Rather than sleeping on the streets, people who are homeless in rural areas often sleep in woods, abandoned buildings, cars, or campgrounds. Rural individuals may also live in precarious conditions, such as substandard or overcrowded housing.
The factors that contribute to homelessness in rural areas are similar to the factors that lead to homelessness in urban areas. Poor mental health services, high rates of unemployment, and limited substance abuse services in rural areas also result in high levels of homelessness. However, unlike people who are homeless in urban areas, people who are homeless in rural areas do not have access to the same social service providers.
