Point-in-Time Count/Survey & Homeless Needs Assessment

Point in Time Survey Regarding this Point In Time Summary Information: The methodology employed in Orange County’s 2007 Point In Time County used a conservative approach and utilized HUD’s restrictive definition of homelessness. As such, the characteristics of those that because they have no other choice are forced to live doubled and tripled up and those that use motels as de facto shelters are not represented here. Those unsheltered homeless that chose not, could not or were not identified to participate in the count and survey are underrepresented as well. This information is being provided as a snapshot of a subset of Orange County’s homeless population and while it may not represent the actual findings of the broader homeless community, it does provide insight into the challenges faced by those residents with the greatest needs in our community.

2 Point in Time Survey What is it? Point in Time Count & Survey is a one night count of unsheltered homeless as directed by HUD A simultaneous count of sheltered homeless Survey conducted the next day A “point-in-time” snapshot of homeless on the street and in shelters within one 24-hour period Meant to show “bare minimum”- does not include precariously housed (RV parks, hotel/motel, doubled up, etc)

3 Point in Time Survey Why do we count? Mandated by HUD to be conducted every other year in January Provides information to HUD and Congress ensuring that much needed programs continue to receive adequate funding Results are reported in the HUD Continuum of Care application Provides information to our community regarding gaps and needs

4 Methodology Sheltered Homeless –HUD defines sheltered homeless as adults, children and unaccompanied youth who, on the night of the count, are living in shelters for the homeless, including: Emergency Shelters Transitional Housing Domestic Violence Shelters Residential programs for runaway/homeless youth Any hotel, motel or apartment voucher arrangements paid for by a public or private agency because the person or family is homeless (note: not captured due to limited resources)

5 Point-in-Time Count Results Only captured homeless in shelters and in previously identified outdoor locations at one point-in-time Identified 3,649 unduplicated persons identified as homeless in shelters and on the streets in Orange County on January 25, 2007 Average incidents per homeless client as reported by shelters was 7.6 Extrapolation of count resulted in 27,732 incidents of homelessness estimated over a twelve month period

Homeless Needs Assessment  Summarizes total homeless persons served and turned away in Orange County shelters over a twelve month period  Total homeless episodes over a twelve month period: 35,065  Total homeless episodes for persons in families with children over a twelve month period: 24,545 (10,227 family units)  Total homeless episodes for unaccompanied individuals over a twelve month period: 10,520

7 Weaknesses in Count Methodologies The federally mandated Point-in-Time Count only captures people in shelters and on the streets in a single 24-hour period It under-represents families and children because people using homeless services over time is different than the population at a single point in time Point-in-time estimates capture a higher share of chronically homeless who use shelters for long periods of time and under-represent persons and families whose homelessness is episodic and who often use motels as de facto shelter The Homeless Needs Assessment primary data only captured persons and families seeking shelter and receiving shelter Orange County MUST develop a methodology that quantifies the thousands of homeless families and individuals living in motels, cars, and other places not captured in the annual needs assessment or bi-annual count Resources are needed to accomplish this goal

8 Households by Shelter Type

9 Subpopulation Demographics (Sheltered and Unsheltered)

10 Survey Respondents Male Female Unsheltered Emergency Shelters Transitional Shelters Mixed Shelters 29.2% 70.8% 34.6% 65.4% 60.3% 39.7% 67.8% 32.2% 0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% Figure 2. Gender by Shelter Type Unsheltered Emergency Shelters Transitional Shelters Mixed Shelters Unsheltered Respondents (24% of survey respondents) 270 surveys completed 79 (32.2%) female 166 (67.8%) male 25 did not report gender Sheltered Respondents (76% of survey respondents) 855 surveys completed 477 (56.3%) female 370 (43.7%) male 8 did not report gender

11 Respondent Age

12 Unsheltered Respondents by Age and Gender

13 Sheltered Respondents by Age and Gender

14 Last Known Permanent Address (Sheltered Homeless) 814 respondents 642 (78.9%) Orange County 63 (7.7%) Los Angeles County 9 (1.1%) San Diego County 100 (12.3%) identified a county other than OC, LA or SD San Bernadino-14 Riverside-24 Kern-2 Kings-1 Monterey-1 San Joaquin-1 San Jose-1 Santa Barbara-1 Santa Clara-2 Shasta-2 Sutter-1 Ventura-1 49 reported last known permanent address outside of California

15 Usual Sleeping Places

16 Length of Homelessness 269 (78.2%) unsheltered survey respondents 794 (92.9%) sheltered respondents Unsheltered respondents homeless longer than sheltered respondents Mean length of time Unsheltered-2.97 years Sheltered-1.38 years

17 Reasons for Homelessness

18 Current Monthly Income by Survey Location

19 Sources of Income

20 Reasons for Not Receiving Assistance

21 Services Needed but Not Received