HomeMy WebLinkAboutHomelessness Supporting Docs
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Continuum of Care: Gaps Analysis JACKSON COUNTY, OREGON
FFY2003
JACKSON County Combined GAPS Analysis Estimated Current Unmet Need! Relative
- ~ . Need
Contact: Ed Angeletti, ACCESS 541-774-4330 Inventory Gap Priority
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': . 'I I. 'It I' I, ,,:,i'1 'II" .. '1' I 1t..,.....t::x."l.....
Emergency Shelter 122 116 6 M
Transitional Housing 269 62 207 H
BedslUnits Permanent Supportive Housing 310 168 142 H
Permanent Affordable Housing 27 10 17 H
Total 728 356 372 f llr~:~1:.;~~~' ':;':';"t.~. .
Job Services & Training 135 92 44 L
Case Management 533 228 305 H
Estimated Substance Abuse Treatment 48 26 . 22 H
Supportive Mental Health Care \ 350 43 311 H
SetVices Housing Placement 18 4 14 H
Slots Life Skills Training 419 93 316 M
Other - Guardianship 20 2 19 H
Other - Conservatorship 30 1 29 H
Chronic Substance Abusers 24 33 -9 H
Seriously Mentally TII 350 39 311 H
Estimated Dually-Dia~osed 93 117 -24 M
Sub- Veterans
Populations Persons with HIV I AIDS
Victims of Domestic Violence 10 8 2 L
Youth 36 22 12
All Others Not Mentioned Above 66 48 18 H
Individuals
Emergency Shelter 44 28 16 H
Transitional HousinR; 119 53 66 H
BedsIUnits Permanent Supportive Housin,g 12 7 5 H
Permanent Affordable Housing 406 92 314 H
Total 581 180 401 : ~~~~:::~~~~~~t~~t",~E:r~~t:
Job Services & Training 21 4 17 H
Case Manaf!ement 137 71 66 H
Child Care 3 3 0
Estimated Substance Abuse Treatment
Supportive Mental Health Care 10 10 0
Services Housing Placement 27 21 6 H
Slots Life Skills Training 31 16 15
Other M
Chronic Substance Abusers 18 7 11 H
Estimated Seriously Mentally m H
Sub- Dually-DiaJa1osed 2 2 0 H
Populations Veterans
Persons with mv I AIDS
Victims of Domestic Violence 44 32 12 M
Parentinf,! or Pre~t Youth U21 19 13 6
All Others Not Mentioned Above 5 2 3 M
Persons in Families with Children
05/02/2003 16:08 FAX 541 664 7927
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Jackson County Community Services Consortium
.. .JIomeless Task_Force
P.O. Box 755, Medford, OR 97501
'{Continuum of Care Homeless Survey----
2003 Survey Report
(Prepared by ACCESS, 104;.)
I. :METHODOLOGY:
This survey was distributed with instructi~ns by mail to all of the organizations in Jackson
County that provide services to homeless persons to -survey those homeless persons encountered
during a one week period-
II. SURVEY:
The survey contained three questions. A total of 88 homeless persons were surveyed. Two
questions were quantitative and one was qualitative. Responses to the tw'o quantitative questions
were tabulated (see below) and the qualitative question is shown in tranScript format. See survey
attached.
A. QUESTION #1: What caused YOll to become homeless?
6 Child Abuse
12 Poor Credit
6 Criminal History
21 Domestic Violence
19 Drug/Alcohol (in the home)
16 Drug! Alcohol (self)
13 Evicted
2 Gambling
14 Kicked Out
21 Low Income
32 Loss ofIncome/Employment
8 Medical
14 Mentallllness
7 Poor Rental History
4 Pregnant
3 Property Sold
4 Runaway
4 By Choice
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eja(MW - HomclC$s Survey Report FY03.dac}
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QUESTION #1 ANALYSIS:
.. ~
The top five- (5) responses to this question, "what caused you to become homeless?"
were as follows:
1)
2)
2)
3)
4)
5)
5)
Loss of IncomelEmployment
Low Income
Domestic Violence
Drug/Alcohol (in the home)
Drug! Alcohol (self)
Mental Dlness
Kicked Out
32 people
21 people
21 people
19 people
16 people
14 people
14 people
Consistent with last yeats results, two of the top causes again.. Loss of Income &
Employment (32) and Low Income (21) - can essentially be grouped into one categoI)'~
Income/Employment. Domestic Violence was tied for second with 21. Thus) 53 people
(47 %) responded that the cause of their homelessness was a result of low income and/or
loss of income/employment and 21 (18%) as a result of Domestic Violence. This fact
points to the importance of addressing employment, workforce development, and
domestic violence issues when working with the homeless population. If these issues are
not addresse<L it is likely that the person will remain unemployed or continue to be
homeless.
Based on the Oregon Employment Depa.r1lnent regional data there ate jobs available in
Southern Oregon. However, there is also a large labor pool~ which results in high
competition for available jobs...even when the pay is low. Competition is especially high
for "living wage" jobs, because so few are available. It is imperative that organizations
dealing with the homeless popula~on partner with organizations that provide workforce
development programs when providing housing assistance or developing housing
proj ects that target homeless persons.
This survey finding points to the importance of increasing the number of living wage jobs
available in Jackson County. Business and workforce development programs are
essential in providing businesses and potential employees with the tools necessary for
success in the increasingly competitive business world and job market.
The 5UlVeys also find that providing cOlUlections between domestic violence victims and
outreach advocates by partnering in the community through education and awareness
campaigns will help to address this issue.
The other three causes that were ranked in the rop five are drug and alcohol, mental
illness, and eviction. The second most important cause based on the survey was drug &
alcohol in the home or selfuse .. 35 (310/0). Even though we do not know the reason for
being kicked out or evicted, based on the other survey responses we can assume that
income and employment played a role. Thus, this piece of the survey is evidence of the
fact that so many low-income people live from paycheck to pay check without the proper
medical care/treatment; always one paycheck away from becoming homeless.
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c:jalMW - Homeless Survey Rcpon FY03.doc:l
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B. OUESTION #2: What do you need to get and keep housing/keep from being
homeless?
. ~
4S Help with deposits for rental
21 Help with apartment search
3 Disability Accessible Housing
8 Drug or alcohol treatment
9 Drug/alcohol-free housing
50 Need goodjob
20 Need better job skills
14 Need counseling
14 Health Care
14 ~entalTreattnent
5 Learn how to keep ajob
15 Learn. how to manage my money
II Safety from abusers
28 Clean up my credit
5 Learn how to avoid eviction
47 Housing I can afford that is decent and safe
8 Help with prescription payments
13 Childcare
33 Transportation
QUESTION #2 ANALYSIS:
The top five (5) responses to this question, HWhat do you need to get and keep
housinglkeep from being homeless forever?" were as follows:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
Need good job
Housing I can afford that is decent & safe
Help with deposits for rental
Transportation
Clean up my credit
50 people
47 people
45 people
33 people
28 people
As you can see from the list of the top five responses, the top two most most important
ways to keep people from becoming or remaining homeless is the availability of good
jobs and safe, decent, affordable housing. There is a shortage of affordable housing in
Jackson County.
These results show the need for organizations to continue to focus on workforce
development and the development of affordable housing to address these unmet needs.
The third-highest need was "help with deposits for rental" This is an on-going problem
for low..income people and was indicated. in last year's homeless survey as well. Most
often people find that they can afford the monthly rent, but that landlord requirements for
firs~ last, and deposit are prohibitive. Many times these move-in costs exceed a full
months worth of wages. Like the need for more rental assistance funding, there is also a
clear need for move-in cost assistance in Jackson County.
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eja(MW . Homeless Survey Report FY03.doc)
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Over the last several years, funding for rental assistance programs (both emergency &
transitional) has decreased, especially funding for staffing these programs.
Further, these programs have become increasingly focused on serving families with
children as opposed to single persons. However~ this need has continued to increase as
housing costs in the region continue to soar.
The fourth-highest need was uTransportation".
c. OUESTION #3: Employment Status
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
QUESTION #3 ANALYSIS:
Unemployed
Employed
Employed but wages are not enough
Fixed Income
Seasonal Worker
48 people
28 people
25 people
13 people
9 people
The majority of the homeless persons who were sutVeyed are unemployed. As the
. previous responses have shown, we also know that this fact has contributed to their
homelessness. The SUlVeys also revealed that the second largest group was those persons
that are employed but wages are not enough.
The third largest group was those people who are on a fixed-income. These people are
different from those who are employed and don't earn. enough in that they have
circumstances that restrict them from. increasing their income; such as a disability. In
contrast, people who are unemployed or underemployed but are able-bodied have the
opportunity to increase their skill level, work more hours~ or find other means of
increasing their income.
The second and third categories (employed and eII1ployed but wages are not enough)
were grouped together. These responses were grouped together because those who are
employed clearly are not earning enough to meet even their most basic needs. For most
ofus it is difficult to imagine how this is possible to be employed and homeless, but none
the less there are people in our community who are working but have no place to live.
4
ej~ r MW ... Holtieless Sllf"\I'ey Report FY03 .doc: }
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HOMELESSNESS ';ND HOUSING PROJECT
JACKSON COUNlY COMMUNITY SERVICE CONSORTIUM
ANNUAL JACKSON COUNTY HOMELESS SURVEY
. .. -
1998 1ge9 %COD 2001 2(1)2
Emergency Shelters/Meal Sites - - -- -
Gospel Mission - Men 46 43 99 11e 143
Gaspet Mission - Women & Children 11 7 _9 12 10
Salvation Arrrrt - Men a 20 18 20 24
Sa1vatJcn Arrrrt. - wren & Families w/Children 34 . 13 36 36 1~5
Other t~~'llN..\Lt...Jj1 . 44- 45 62 4fJ
Zien H~use . 6 6
II Marks House 17 17
th STREET HOUSE 5
Law EnfCln:ement Oraanizatlons
- Jac:k5cn County Jail 38 9 36 54 371
Veterans Pracrams
Domidliary - General 302 382 387 212 52
HCHV 2S 8 12 21 47
Admissions 4 2 4 4 6
Scciaf Servicss Agencies
OREGON HOUSING & COMMUNITY SERVICES
Homeless Shelter Nightcount Report
JACKSON County Report
"AlLL ~uR M'-;4J
~ jw4,
~
/ ;J Y IwvvJ
Sheltered Statistics
Singles Statistics
Adult Adult Male Female Male
Male Female 0-11 0-11 12-17
5 5 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
2 4 0 0 0
25 10 0 0 0
0 0 0 0 0
32 19 0 0 0
Female Unknown
12-17
Singles provided emergency shelter in Shelter Facility
Singles provided hotel/motel/campsite vouchers
Rent/Mortgage Assistance
Singles provided transitional housing
o
o
1
o
o
8
o
o
6
o
Totals
1
14
Family Statistics
Families provided emergency
shelter in Shelter Facility
Families provided
hotel/motel/campsite vouchers
Rent Mortgage Assistance
Adult
Male
2
Adult
Female
5
Unknown
0-5 6-11 12-17
Total
Individuals
20
Total
Families
8
6
---
430
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
5
16
32
20
30
12
111
34
Families provided transitional
housing
2
10
11
3
o
27
10
Totals
20
47 8 35 36 12 158 52
Adult Female Children Unknown Total
66 84 22 224
0 4 0 @
66 88 22
Male Female Children Unknown
8 1 0 1
1 0 0 0
5 25 11 7
8 0 0 1
12 10 1 2
1 2 3 0
6 14 4 4
20 15 1 4
6 4 0 2
Total Individuals
Shetter~----------------
Turned Away
Totals
Adult Male
52
o
52
Eligible for Other Services
Veterans
Farmworkers
Domestic Violence
Corection Release in last 90 days
Physically Disabled
Developmentally Disabled
Psychiatrically Disabled
Substance Abuse
Dual diagnosis (Mental Health and Substance Abuse)
Version 3.0 LHN
Page 1
04/14/20034:24:25 PM
November 15. 2002
~ ,
. ;1..;
i.I ,: .' 0/1(1$
'~ ,~l
OREGON HOUSING & COMMUNITY SERVICES
Homeless Shelter Nightcount Report
JACKSON County Report
N&vember 15, 2002
Cause of Homelessness Families Singles (18+) 0-11 12-17
Child Abuse 3 10 6 0
Couldn't afford rent 2 1 4 0
Credit 17 4 28 4
Criminal History 2 8 3 1
Domestic Violence 12 14 16 2
Drug/A1cohol(ln Home} 7 7 8 2
Drug/Alcohol (Self) 4 25 5 0
Evicted 7 4 12 0
Gambling 0 0 0 0
Kicked Out 6 9 6 4
Medical 20 12 32 4
Mental Illness 2 5 3 0
Poor Rental History 4 4 7 0
Pregnant 5 6 9 0
Property Sold 2 3 3 2
Runaway 1 0 1 0
Unemployed 1 2 2 0
By Choice 8 13 8 3
Other 6 11 8 2
Unknown 0 0 0 0
Sheltered & Turned Away
Household Composition Male Female 0-11 12-17 Unknown
Pregnant and parenting Teen Households under 18 0 2 0 2 0
Single Adults and Unaccompanied youth under 18 39 26 0 0 14
Childless Couple 4 4 0 0 0
Adult Single Parent Households 33 67 53 7 7
Two Parent Family 25 28 20 6 1
Version 3.0 LHN
, Page 2
04/14120034:24:26 PM
November 15. 2002
OREGON HOUSING & COMMUNITY SERVICES
Homeless Shelter Nightcount Report
JACKSON County Report
Nevember 15, 2002
Age Range Male Female Unknown Total
0-5 17 20 0 37
6-11 20 16 0 36
12-17 4 11 0 15
18-23 9 16 0 25
24-44 31 38 0 69
45-54 10 7 0 17
55-69 2 5 0 7
70+ 0 0 0 0
Unknown 8 14 0 22
Ethnicity Adult Adult Children Unknown
Male Female
Asian 1 0 0 0
Black/African American 1 3 6 0
Hispanic or Latino 1 4 12 0
American Indian or Alaskan Native 2 2 0 0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander 0 2 1 0
White 44 53 65 21
Unknown 3 2 4 1
Turnaways
Adult Adult 0-11 12-17 Unknown
Singles Present Situation Male Female
Car 0 0 0 0 0
Hospital 0 0 0 0 0
Street 0 0 0 0 0
Squatting 0 0 0 0 0
MotellHotel 0 0 0 0 0
Staying W / Friends or Family 0 0 0 0 0
Camping 0 0 0 0 0
Other 0 0 0 0 0
None 0 0 0 1 0
Version 3.0 LHN
. Page 3
04/14/20034:24:26 PM
Novernber15,2002
OREGON HOUSING & COMMUNITY SERVICES
Homeless Shelter Nightcount Report
JACKSON County Report
November 1S, 2002
Adult Adult
Families Present Situation Families Male Female Children Unknown
Car 1 0 0 0 0
Hospital 0 0 0 0 0
Street 0 0 0 0 0
Squatting 0 0 0 0 0
Motel/Hotel 1 0 0 0 0
Staying W / Friends or Family 2 0 1 3 0
Camping 2 2 2 4 0
Other 2 0 0 0 0
None 0 0 0 3 0
School Count
Aee Range Unknown K-S 7-8 9-12 In School
0-5 0 5 0 0 5
6-11 0 28 5 0 33
12-17 0 0 4 9 13
18-23 0 0 0 5 5
24-44 0 0 0 0 0
45-54 0 0 0 0 0
55-69 0 0 0 0 0
70+ 0 0 0 0 0
Unknown 0 0 0 0 0
Version 3.0 LHN
'Page 4
04/14/20034:24:27 PM
November 15, 2002
ASHLAND STRATEGIC PLAN
SOCIAL AND HUMAN SERVICES ELEMENT
Mission Statement
To ensure that all people in Ashland live in a safe, strong, and caring community, the City of Ashland seeks to enhance
the quality of life and promote the self-reliance, growth, and development of people. To these ends, the City of Ashland
will strive to provide resources and services to meet basic human needs.
Overview and Philosophv
Central to the attainment of this mission are a series of commitments and strategies to ensure that the City of
Ashland will be characterized as a safe and healthy community. We value a community in which citizens
are free to grow, to be safe within their person and family, and to join forces in the collaborative caring for
one another.
The City of Ashland, as a government institution, is charged with promoting the general welfare. The status
of the general welfare is severely diminished when there are those in the community who are ill with
treatable conditions, but for the price of treatment, remain untreated; those who lack food and shelter, but for
the price such necessities, who remain homeless and hungry. Every such circumstance diminishes the
strength and functionality of the community, and erodes the ability of children to learn, of adults to work,
parents to parent and seniors to remain independent.
Critical first steps toward the attainment of a safe and healthy community reside in the creation and support
of a collaborative community wide safety net. When one thinks of providing a safety net one thinks first of
any critical, life-or-death needs which might be provided to a person to protect against undue suffering or an
inhumane response from neighbors. Specifically, a safe and healthy community:
. Offers its residents drug-free schools, workplaces, and community centers, while creating capacities
for the prevention and treatment of chemical dependency;
. Is characterized by citizens who are not afraid to venture from their homes at night, and parents who
are assured that their children are safe from negative influences that promote crime, substance abuse, or
violence;
. Is characterized by the affordable and accessible presence of primary and preventative health care
services which in turn support a healthy workforce and reduce adolescent pregnancies, infant mortality,
disability, and the spread of communicable diseases;
. Is one that provides an essential safety net of effective and responsible emergency assistance to
those who are unable to feed or shelter their families and who are confronted with situations they cannot
alleviate by themselves;
. Supports the development of families through such programs as parenting education, affordable
housing, quality childcare, crisis intervention, victims' assistance, and senior services;
. Is one that affords justice, and equal access to justice, to each of its members in a continuous effort
to break the cycle of poverty, stabilize and strengthen the ability of parents to care for their children,
obtain safe and affordable housing, facilitate safe working conditions, defend against consumer fraud,
and protect the frail and vulnerable from abuse.
As the City of Ashland moves along a continuum which focuses on self-sufficiency, the tools for self-
sufficiency must be included within the context of the community's safety net. There is no person who will
achieve true self-sufficiency if denied timely, continuous, and affordable access to needed treatments,
interventions, advocacy, and skill-building. For these reasons, beneficiaries of the community's safety net
hold ethical obligations for personal advancement along a progressive continuum toward self-sufficiency
(unless otherwise constrained by disability or vulnerability).
The Role of the City of Ashland
The City of Ashland plays a strategic and pro-active role in facilitating a safe and healthy community by:
. Providing leadership in community forums in which safety, health, livability, and quality of life are
discussed or debated.
. Enacting a responsible public policy that:
1) Safeguards strategic partnerships with charitable providers of safety net services;
2) Remains mindful of potential negative or unintended outcomes;
3) Invites the counsel of community professionals who are actively involved in the delivery of
safety net services when contemplating relevant public policy.
. Encouraging true collaboration, rewarding a dedication to and focus on mission, and discouraging
unnecessary duplication of service or effort;
. Establishing clear definitions and priorities for safety net services and allocating public resources in
accordance with those priorities;
GOAL # 1:
PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE AND COORDINATED SYSTEM OF SERVICES TO ADDRESS
PEOPLE IN NEED
POLICIES:
(1-1) Identify opportunities to achieve a broad spectrum of integrated community services that provides
for all residents by helping eliminate identified barriers associated with collaboration such as
liability insurance, ways to mitigate obstacles to information exchange among agencies, ways to
overcome "turfdom" and fears of budget invasion and the creation of a streamlined, performance
based contracting system that rapidly identifies changes in the community and responds with
innovative projects.
(1-2) Create a consistent database of information on local service needs, successful program solutions to
human and social service problems, and sources of funding for human and social service programs.
(1-3) Assist older Ashlanders, through the Senior Program, in achieving an opportunity for employment
free from discriminatory practices because of age; suitable housing; an appropriate level of physical
and mental health services; ready access to effective social services; appropriate institutional care
when required; information about available supportive services; and supportive services which
enable elderly persons to remain in their homes.
(1-4) Ensure that the needs of low income individuals are considered in the planning for public housing,
community services, and fees for development.
(1-5) Identify opportunities to develop creative partnerships with service organizations that could include
technical assistance, staff development, co-sponsorship of programs and development of new
revenue sources.
(1-6) Playa leadership role in the creation of a "City of Ashland Operating Foundation for a Safe and
Healthy Community."
GOAL # 2:
ENSURE THAT THE ALLOCATION OF PROGRAM FUNDING IS FAIR~ OBJECTIVE AND
CONSISTENT.
POLICIES:
(2-1) Allocate public resources, from within the City's general fund, in an amount set by resolution, for
the direct support of essential safety net services.
In recognition of the reality that the costs associated with the provision of essential safety net
services increase on an annual basis, give due consideration in the City's budget process to matters
pertaining to inflation indexes, environmental factors which may contribute to increased demand for
services, and compensation rates (livable wages) paid to social service employees.
(2-2) Allocate, as permissible by the CDBG Block Grant process, on an annual basis, fifteen percent
(15%) of categorical CDBG resources for the direct support of qualifying safety net services.
(2-3) Expend through the City's budget process, resources allocated from the City's General Fund and the
proportional share of CDBG funds, in the charitable, private not-for-profit sector for the provision
of safety net services such as:
(A) Temporary, emergency food and shelter;
(B) Substance abuse education, prevention and treatment;
(C) The preservation of dignity and equal access to justice;
(D) Primary and preventive health care services;
(E) Critical supportive services for families, seniors and victims.
GOAL #3:
ENSURE THAT FUNDED PROGRAMS DIRECTLY ADDRESS CHANGING PRIORITIES AND
ARE ADMINISTERED IN AN EFFECTIVE AND COST-EFFICIENT MANNER
POLICIES:
(3-1) Ensure that the City consults with local agency officials in the design, delivery and evaluation of
services, by establishing an Ad Hoc Human Services Task Force with its primary focus on working
on the implementation of Policies 1-2, 3-2 and 3-3 and related human services planning and
management issues.
(3-2) Develop and adopt techniques for analyzing and measuring the equity of outcomes and benefits of
services delivery which can be integrated into planning, evaluation and budgeting components.
Programs should be evaluated on the basis of well defined performance standards that relate to
program administration and participant development, in addition to the basis of numbers served or
placed.
(3-3) Develop a format for presentations to the Budget Committee, to be made every 3-4 years, which
utilize the results of the monitoring framework outlined in Policy 3-2.
National Law Center
On Homelessness and Poverty
Myths and Facts about Homeles_~ness
....,..,. ""0.; _
It is a tragic aspect of our culture that homeless people, in addition to suffering from the
hardship of their condition, are subjected to alienation and discrimination by mainstream society.
It is even more tragic that alienation and discrimination often spring from incorrect myths and
stereotypes which surround homelessness. The following examines some of the myths and the
realities about homelessness.
Arrest Records of Homeless People
Myth: Homeless people commit more violent crimes than housed people.
Fact: Homeless people actually commit less violent crimes than housed people.
Dr. Pamela Fischer, of Johns Hopkins University, studied the 1983 arrest records in Baltimore
and found that although homeless people were more likely to commit non-violent and non-
destructive crimes, they were actually less likely to commit crimes against person or property.l
The report findings are summarized in the following table.
% of crimes against person or % of all other types of
(:>ro ert rimes
rimes committed by homeless
eo Ie
rimes committed by non-
omeless people
The Magnet Theory
Myth: Setting up services for homeless people will cause homeless people from all around to
migrate to a city.
Fact: Studies have shown that homeless people do not migrate for services. To the
extent they do move to new areas, it is because they are searching for work, have family
in the area, or other reasons not related to services.
A recent study found that 75% of homeless people are still living in the city in which they
became homeless.g
Myths and Facts about Homelessness - Page 1 of 1
The Chronic Theory
Myth: Homeless people are a fixed population who are usually homeless for long periods of
time.
Fact: The homeless population is quite diverse in terms of their length of homelessness
and the number of times they cycle in and out of homelessness.
Research on the length of homelessness states that 40% of homeless people have been
homeless less than six months, and that 70% of homeless people have been homeless less
than two years.~
Other research on the length of homelessness has identified three primary categories of
homeless people:
. transitionally homeless who have a single episode of homelessness lasting an average of
58 days,
. episodically homeless who have four to five episodes of homelessness lasting a total of
265 days,
. chronically homeless who have an average of two episodes, lasting a total of 650 days.1
Homeless Population Demographics
Myth: Homeless people are mostly single men.
Fact: Families constitute a large and growing percentage of the homeless population.
A recent study found that families comprise 38% of the urban homeless population.~ Other
research finds that homeless families comprise the majority of homeless people in rural areas.2
Employment
Myth: Homeless people don't work and get most of their money from public assistance
programs.
Fact: Homeless people do work, and a relatively small percentage of them receive
government assistance.
A nationwide study by the Urban Institute in 1987 found that only 20% of 1,704 homeless people
received AFDC, GA, or SSI.Z
A study done in Chicago found that 390k of homeless people interviewed had worked for some
time during the previous month.l!
Myths and Facts about Homelessness - Page 2 of 2
Substance Abuse and Mental Illness
Myth: All homeless people are mentally ill or substance abusers.
Fact: Around a quarter of homeless people are mentally ill, and about 400/0 are alcohol or
substance abusers, with around 15% suffering both disabilities.
Koegel has researched the prevalence of mental illness among the homeless population and
found "between 20% and 25% of those homeless people studied have at some time
experienced severe and often extremely disabling mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and
the major affective disorders (clinical depression or bipolar disorder)."f!
James Wright, of Tulane University, has studied the prevalence of alcohol and other drug abuse
among the homeless population. He finds that 38% of homeless people are alcohol abusers, as
opposed to 1 00,10 of the general population. He furthermore finds that 13%> of homeless people
are drug abusers.1o
The Center for Mental Health Services states that betweeen10 and 200/0 of homeless people
suffer "co-occurring severe mental and substance use disorders. ,,11
1. James Wright, Memo to NLCHP: Transiency of Homeless Substance Abusers 1 (March 11, 1997)
2. Martha Burt, What We Know About Helping the Homeless and What It Means For HUD's Homeless Programs
Testimony presented to the Housing and Community Development Subcommittee of the Banking and Financial
Institutions Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives 1 (March 5, 1997).
3. Dennis Culhane, Testimony presented to the Housing and Community Development Subcommittee of the Pamela
Fischer, Criminal Activity Among the Homeless: A Study of Arrests in Baltimore 49 (January, 1988).
4. Banking and Financial Institutions Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives, Figure 3 (March 5, 1997).
5. U.S. Conference of Mayors, A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's Cities:1996 (1996)
6. Yvonne Vissing, Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Homeless Children and Families in Small Town America, 1996 (1996).
7. Martha Burt and Cohen, America's Homeless: Numbers, Characteristics, and Programs that Serve Them 43 (1989).
8. Peter Rossi, Down and Out in America 40 (1989).
9. Paul Koegel, Causes of Homelessness, Homelessness in America 31 (1996).
10. James Wright, Homelessness and Health 68 (1987).
11. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Mental Health Services, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, Integrating Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services for Homeless People with Co-
Occurring Mental and Substance Use Disorders 1.
Training Curriculum for HCH Outreach Workers
National HCH Council. Inc.
January 2002
Myths and Facts about Homelessness - Page 3 of 3
NLCHP - About the Law Center
Page 1 of2
Housing
Income
About the Law Center
Homelessness and
Poverty in America
The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty was
established in June 1989. It is governed by a nine-member
board of directors that includes lawyers, activists, researchers,
and homeless and formerly homeless people. Based in
Washington, D.C., the Law Center works with a wide variety of
groups around the country.
A
C
Education
Civil Rights
c
s
The mission of the Law Center is to alleviate, ameliorate and
end homelessness by serving as the legal arm of the
nationwide movement to end homelessness. To achieve its
mission, the Law Center pursues three main strategies: impact
litigation, policy advocacy, and public education. To amplify the
work of its small staff, the Law Center relies on interns,
volunteers, and the pro bono assistance of the private bar.
B
o
E
The Law Center strives to place homelessness in the larger
context of poverty. By taking this approach, the Law Center
aims to address homelessness as a very visible manifestation
of deeper causes: the shortage of affordable housing,
insufficient income, and inadequate social services. The Law
Center presses for solutions that address the causes of
homelessness, not just its symptoms.
The Law Center was established by Maria Foscarinis, a former
Wall Street lawyer working to address homelessness at the
national level since 1985.
I Legal Notice I PrivacvStatement I Aboutthe Photos I Qth
Copyright @ NLCHP 2002
http://www .nlchp.org/about/
5/27/03
'~
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RESOLUTION NO. 86- d...J
A RESOLUTION ADOPTING AS CITY POLICY THE FUNDING
OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES
WHEREAS, the City Council has in past years funded a number of
health and social services through the City Budget with
funds from Federal Revenue Sharing monies;-~nd
. WHEREAS, it appears that Federal Revenue Sharing monies will not
be available in the future; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor has appointed a committee on Community Health
Care and Future Social Needs which has concluded that
the City should continue to fund certain Health and
Social programs; and
WHEREAS, the Council, adopts the recommendations of the Mayor's
Committee insofar as it recommends said funding; and
WHEREAS, the Council finds that the funding of health care and
social service needs is an important City function
which contributes to the health and well being of the
citizens of Ashland.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED AS FOLLOWS:
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the City of
Ashland to fund in future years ~rom the General Fund, health and
social services needs of the type currently being funded in
fiscal year 1986-87 by the City of Ashland in an amount at least
equal to $46,644., expressed in 1986 dollars, adjusted for
inflation.
The foregoing Resolution was READ and DULY ADOPTED at a
regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ashland on the
-2l:!~( day of ~1 Co LL.1C.J ~.lLeh) , 1986.
I ..
'~~/ ~- -;;:;~4t-kL:'-
Nan E. Franklin
City Recorder
SIGNED and APPROVED this ~L day of
..
,';}JJ.IJlL ://i.,a. i{ ., 1986.
I
~" ~-' ,. '---7~ J" .
. . ~~_&~-L7? -e~A"c~__~
L./ Gordon Medar is
Mayor
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