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U.S. Reports Drop in Homeless Population
by amyjudd | July 30, 2008 at 08:59 am | 325 views | 7 comments | 21 recommendations
The numbers of homeless people are down about 30% in the years 2005 to 2007 according to Bush administration officials. These numbers reflect people living in the streets and in shelters.
Housing officials say the statistics, which are collected annually from more than 3,800 cities and counties, may reflect better data collection and some variation in the number of communities reporting. But officials also attribute much of the decline to a policy shift promoted by Congress and the administration that has focused federal and local resources on finding stable housing for homeless people suffering from drug addiction, mental illness or physical disabilities, long deemed the hardest to help in the homeless population.
Under the strategy, known as “housing first,” local officials have over the last eight years increasingly placed the chronically homeless into permanent shelter — apartments, halfway houses or rooms — and provided them with services for drug addiction, mental illness and health problems.
Until this plan was implemented many homeless just shuffled between emergency shelters, hospitals and the streets.
Officials and housing experts say the “housing first” program has begun to stabilize the chronically homeless population, which the administration defines as disabled individuals who have been continuously homeless for more than a year or have experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.
If these numbers are in fact true, then it will be the most significant decline in years. There is however a long way to go, and it seems strange that the numbers are decreasing when foreclosure rates are going up, and even our own member 'master_jim2008' became homeless due to losing his home.
What we have to remember about this study is that it focuses on the numbers of chronic homeless, and that does not include people like master_jim.
The report did not include 2008 data that would reflect the current economy, mortgage crisis and foreclosures. Report co-author Dennis Culhane, a University of Pennsylvania professor, said it's "too soon to tell" whether that will cause an increase in homelessness.
It also does not include people that couch surf, so they are not really homeless, but they don't have a home to go to themselves.
Philip Mangano, appointed by President Bush in 2002 to lead the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, said, "These are the numbers we've been waiting for, for three decades," especially the 52,000 fewer chronically homeless. He said chronic homelessness is a moral problem and a drain on community funds, and Mr. Bush in 2003 set the goal of reducing and ending it in the next decade.
The numbers of chronic homeless account for about 18 percent of the homeless population.
“We should be focused on ending homelessness for everybody, not just a small segment of the homeless population,” said Michael Stoops, the acting director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, an advocacy group based here, who said homeless families needed additional resources.
This does seem like great news, but there is a long way to go.
What do you think about these numbers? Do you think they reflect what is happening in America?
July 30, 2008 at 08:59 am by amyjudd, 325 views, 7 comments
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (7)
at 09:28 on July 30th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.
There should be no Homeless in any of the G8 Countries!
at 14:38 on July 30th, 2008
Since Ronald Reagan was heavily criticized for homelessness during his presidency, I guess President Bush can be given credit for this encouraging downturn. There will always be homeless as some of them are mentally ill, drug addicts and alcoholics who refuse help.
at 19:02 on July 30th, 2008
A very convenient way of looking at it! Maybe if less people would see it that way we would not have any Homeless at all!
at 15:00 on July 30th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.
I think it makes more sense to focus on the chronic homeless actually. These people have intrinsic problems (drugs, mental or physical disabilities, etc.) that won't just go away. Others who are homeless for a short time do not become "chronic homeless" because they find a job and a new place to stay.
This, based on the little I know about this subject, seems analogous to unemployment. Most of unemployment is for people who are unemployed for less than 27 weeks, which is slightly more than half a year. This type of unemployment is termed as frictional unemployment and is defined as unemployment due to a worker being in between jobs. It sounds like a good portion of homelessness behaves the same way. They're in between places to live.
Obviously this is not good - it's undesireable. But is it worth the government spending billions of dollars on something that will correct itself within a couple of months? It makes more sense to devote most of the government's resources (our tax dollars) to chronic homelessness and unemployment.
at 15:11 on July 30th, 2008
We'll see what the numbers are like for 2008 after the mortgage debacle finally plays out.
at 15:11 on July 30th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 23:00 on September 13th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.
This is important news. Thanks for bringing it. I need a better understanding of what is being reported, however. The report says "officials also attribute much of the decline [in the homeless population] to a policy shift promoted by Congress and the [Bush] administration." Emphasis added. My question is, exactly how many of the estimated 52,000 chronically homeless people were actually placed in "permanent shelter — apartments, halfway houses or rooms" and given services and treatment under this program?
My congressman reported that an estimated 1.25 million mental patients are in prison tonight, and I would like to know exactly how many of the 52,000 homeless people who are no longer on the street joined those mentally ill prisoners behind bars, as opposed to the number who were housed and serviced under this exciting program. Where can one get the exact numbers to truly assess the information presented herein?
The letter from my congressman is included in this article:
http://www.nowpublic.com/health/justice-quest-americas-mentally-ill-prisoners-mary-neal
If a significant portion of the 52,000 are indeed in permanent housing now, then this is very good news, and I congratulate Congress and the Bush Administration on helping America to end homelessness, prison, and death as this country's answers to mental illness. Unless, however, there are provisions for enforced treatment for acute mental patients who are living in neighborhoods in housing provided by this program, please be aware that this does nothing to protect the general population and little or nothing to protect acute mental patients from eventual arrest for crimes they may commit while they go untreated for mental illness.
Thanks so much for the story! Please tell me if you have actual numbers helped under the program.
Mary Neal
Assistance to the Incarcerated Mentally Ill
http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/AIMI