BUFFALO, NY - The State of Homelessness in Erie County annual report has been released detailing the number of homeless in the area and recommendations on how to help.

The report states that on any given night there are between 1,200 to 1,500 homeless individuals in Erie County. The numbers include an estimated 200 people living in abandoned homes.

In 2009 - 2010 there were 8,500 people classified as homeless, 60% of these individuals were homeless for the first time.

The report suggests that more housing options should be made available to those who are chronically homeless.

Other facts:

• 18% of the homeless are under 18.
• 45% are black, 32% are white.
• There are 434 reported Veterans that are homeless.
• 42% do not have a high school diploma.

The Travel Channel will feature Buffalo, New York on its new television program, “Off Limits.”  Explorer and history buff Don Wildman is delving into the forbidden, hidden and unseen spaces across America.  The Buffalo, New York episode airs nationwide on Monday, June 27th at 9pm   

For over a century Buffalo, New York was a key player in powering America through the industrial revolution. Its natural wonders, like Niagara Falls, and its strategic location along the Great Lakes made it a powerhouse for the growing American empire. Host Don Wildman will get passed the gates, crawl into the dark tunnels and climb on top of its crumbling mega-structures to get a glimpse at Buffalo’s glory days. Just east of Buffalo he will unearth the ingenious engineering behind the Erie Canal.