2008 Triangle Point-In-Time Homeless Count Reveals 1,929 Homeless in Triangle

RALEIGH--The 2008 Triangle Point-In-Time Count revealed there are currently at least 1,929 homeless men, women and children in the Triangle living on the streets and in homeless shelters. The one-night count conducted by homeless service providers throughout Durham, Orange and Wake counties further revealed:

· There were 291 children (15 percent of the total homeless count) lived in shelters the night of the Point-In-Time count.
· 127 (7 percent) of the total number of homeless people counted lived unsheltered under bridges, in abandoned houses, or in camps.
· 272 (14 percent) of the total number of homeless people counted were considered chronically homeless. Chronically homeless is defined as more than one year of homelessness or four periods of homelessness in the last three years, and a disability or substance abuse diagnosis.
· 218 (11 percent) of the total number of homeless people counted are veterans with histories of military service.

Representative Brad Miller released the numbers at the opening ceremony of the 2008 Capital Area Homeless Veterans Stand Down held on March 27, 2008. Miller discussed the importance of supporting veterans who are returning from overseas, insuring that services are available to those who have served their country. The Stand Down is a one-day event where homeless veterans access a wide range of services. Homeless veterans are assisted in obtaining Veterans Affairs benefits, social services, health care, education, mental health, substance abuse, employment, housing, spiritual care and basic needs.

While the total number of homeless people has increased in the Point-In-Time Count since 2006 when there were 1,720 homeless persons identified, there are some positive findings over the two year period between 2006 and 2008:

· The number of people who are homeless in families dropped from 530 to 473 (an 11 percent decrease).
· The number of chronic homeless people dropped from 321 to 272 (a 15 percent decrease).
· The actual number found unsheltered on the street declined from 182 to 127 (30 percent decrease).

Wake, Durham and Orange counties all have 10 year plans to end homelessness: Wake County is into year three, Durham is entering year two and Orange is now beginning to implement their plan. All the plans have targeted strategies for identifying and engaging individuals on the street and assisting those who are chronically homeless.

If I were to guess at what is going on with these numbers I would say that those at greatest risk, those homeless people with a disabling condition, homeless families with children, and homeless individuals on the street, are moving out of homelessness into permanent housing. However, the current economy, the lack of affordable housing, and the growing anecdotal evidence from emergency service providers who are seeing more individuals with mental illness, is impacting the number of single individuals who are finding themselves homeless.