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.

The Daily Tarheel

Check out what the Daily Tarheel contributed to ending homelessness.

PHC in Shelters

The Mayor of San Francisco is trying to bring Project Homeless Connect into two city-wide homeless shelters. Take a look at this blog.

The Homeless Guy

I added a link, over to the right, that takes you to a blog of the homeless guy. His post on Christianity and the Bible from this weekend is pretty interesting. A good perspective to remember.

Point In Time Count

Well, the night before last was the Point In Time Count for the State of North Carolina. This year for me was a bit more frustrating than usual. The team I was on, didn't count anyone as homeless this year in the street count. We had sites in West Raleigh around the fairgrounds area. It is always challenging when you come across campsites where people are clearly staying, but there is no one there. We can't count those who we can't see. This occurred in three locations, and I'm guessing one of the locations there were at least two people who were camping in that area.

The point in time count is not an accurate count by any stretch of the imagination, yet it is the only thing we have that counts homeless people with any sort of accuracy.

I also find myself really challenged by some of the tactics that are used by some of the local outreach ministries to help homeless people living in the woods. One local group has been known to provide people with car batteries to provide power, camp stoves, etc. I'm a firm believer in making sure people aren't cold and are safe, but this seems to me to be disincitivizing people from coming in out of doors. These folks need permanent places to live under a warm roof, not the comforts of home in a tent.

DAHC Executive Director Position

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION available at Durham Affordable Housing Coalition (DAHC), a well established and respected nonprofit affordable housing services and advocacy agency. Duties include development and management of $ 500,000+ budget; management of a nine person staff; and housing policy development and advocacy work with 15-person Board of Directors and others.

Salary: Competitive salary based on experience plus benefits.

Qualifications: 3-5 years experience managing organization with staff of 5 or more, preferably a non-profit agency engaged in affordable housing work; successful grant writer; and proven ability to work with Board and other volunteers. College degree required; graduate degree in Public or Business Administration, City Planning or similar field preferred. Knowledge of Durham community a definite plus.

Send resume with 3 job references by February 15th to info@dahc.org or to 331 W. Main Street, Durham, NC 27701. EOE

More data on Housing First

Seattle recently released a report demonstrating the success of its housing first program. Follow this link.

On A Sad Note

Maryland Alphonso Williams, a respected humanitarian and a loving father and husband, died on Sunday, January 6, 2008, at his home surrounded by loving family and friends. Mr. Williams had a long, heroic struggle with cancer and became an inspiration to many by always refusing to be defined by his disease. On Friday he had given an impassioned speech to a large gathering in Durham; Saturday he was riding around town with his wife tending to business.Mr. Williams was born July 8, 1951, to the late Thaddeus Williams Jr. and Lucy Speed Johnson-Williams in Franklinton. He grew up in Durham and was a graduate of Hillside High School and Durham Community College.Over the last 10 years of his life, Mr. Williams became a local, state and national leader on homelessness, drawing upon his own personal experiences to become a true friend of those in need. He conducted street outreach, directed a detoxification facility, served as a counselor and worked in many positions with Housing for New Hope, the latest as a program manager. He served as a founder and president of the alumni of Housing for New Hope, a group of formerly homeless people who provide support and advocacy for those dealing with homelessness and addiction.Mr. Williams was a member of the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness and was appointed by the mayor to be on the executive team of the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness in Durham. He made three trips to Washington, D.C., in 2007 to help testify before the U.S. Senate and led a national workshop on advocacy.Mr. Williams had a love of music and was known as DJ Phonze when he performed for local fundraisers and dances. He loved "old school" music and old stylish cars. He was an avid photographer, an excellent public speaker and a fine dancer.In his every endeavor, Mr. Williams brought forward his unique personality, his depth of care and compassion and his abiding and authentic faith and spirituality.Alphonso Williams leaves to cherish his memory his loving wife, LaFrance, and their children, Alfranzia Bryant Williams, Randi Thomas, Danci Melvin and Charles McDonald; beloved sister and brother, Jackie Parker and Johnny "Red" Williams; mother-in-law, Caroline Davis; sisters-in-law, Evelyn McNeil (Keith) and Mary Ford (Stanley); brothers-in-law, Robby and Bobby Gray; and a host of nieces, nephews and faithful friends.A memorial service celebrating Mr. Williams' life will be held Sunday, January 13, 2008, at 2:30 p.m. at Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham. A reception will follow the service.In lieu of flowers and in the spirit of Mr. Williams' love for his family and his work, a gift (non-tax deductible) can be made to the Williams Children Educational Fund or a contribution (tax deductible) made to Housing for New Hope. Gifts and contributions can be sent to 18 West Colony Place, Suite 250, Durham, NC 27705.

Some research

Happy New Year. It has been a bit since I've written on the blog. I was able to get away for the Christmas Holidays and have been busy since I've been back. However, some great research is available that focuses on developing a typology for homeless families. Check it out here.

Triathalons for homelessness

Robyn Fehrman and her sister dedicated their 2007 triathlon seasons to raising awareness about homelessness and raising funds for Genesis Home- a housing and supportive services program for homeless families in Durham, NC. With the help of many friends and community members, the Tri to End Homelessness campaign has been a phenomenal success! They raised nearly $6,000 to support Genesis Home’s programs and successfully raced their first Olympic distance triathlon.

Recently Robyn and her sister informed me that Toyota has selected Tri to End Homelessness as a finalist in their Engines of Change Power of Sport contest! Over 350 folks from across the nation submitted applications and they have been selected as one of the top 10! Your votes will determine the winner.

Here’s where you need to do:

Please vote for Tri to End Homelessness by visiting:
http://www.toyotaenginesofchange.com/Page805.aspx From this link you can read Robyn's profile, click on VOTE NOW, and vote once per day until December 31.

Winning any one of the top prizes would, of course, be wonderful - BUT the national exposure for the issue of homelessness and power individuals have to make difference would be even more valuable.

Please pass this on to folks in your networks!

If you haven’t already, you can read all about the Tri to End Homelessness journey at www.tritoendhomelessness.blogspot.com - and stay up to date about the sisters' plans for 2008!

It's a busy time of year, but some great things continue to happen. Take a look at this article about how Portland's business community has stepped up to the plate to help with street people.

Orange County 10 Year Plan Staff Needed

Homeless Programs Coordinator
Housing and Community Development
Posting 9049-1029

Description: Provide leadership in the effort to implement the Orange County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness working closely with the Partnership to End Homelessness Executive Team and other community partners. Develop a comprehensive understanding of available housing options including Housing First as well as the supportive services necessary to prevent and eliminate homelessness particularly for the chronically homeless. Assess potential financial resources, including both public and private resources, for the 10 Year Plan. Design and execute both an operational and capital budget necessary to achieve annual priorities. Conduct periodic evaluations of Plan implementation activities and provide a written report of the results to the Partnership.

Requirements: Requires any combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from an accredited college or university with a Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Administration, Planning, Public Health, or closely related field and five years of closely related experience. Prefer experience managing programs related to homelessness. Strong written/oral communication and interpersonal skills are required as well as the ability to interpret complex federal policies and guidelines. Excellent computer skills are also required. Must possess a driver license valid in the state of North Carolina.

Compensation: The hiring range for this position is $46,013 - $59,785. Orange County provides a comprehensive employee benefits package, including membership in the N.C. Local Government Employee’s Retirement System.

Closing Date: Friday, December 21, 2007

Apply To: Orange County Personnel Department
208 South Cameron Street, Post Office Box 8181
Hillsborough, North Carolina 27278
Telephone: (919) 732-8181, extension 2550
Facsimile: (919) 644-3009

An official Orange County Application For Employment is required for all openings and must be received on or before the closing date. Refer to the appropriate posting number on your application. Resumes will not be accepted unless accompanied by a completed application form.

Orange County is a drug-free workplace. Positions designated (*) as Safety Sensitive require pre-transfer drug testing. In compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Orange County will employ only those individuals who are U.S. citizens or legal aliens authorized to maintain employment in the United States. OCP11/28/07

Two different stories

This weekend was a busy weekend for the news media as this week begins the National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness week. The NY Times had an interesting article that is talking about the successes of "wet housing." It's difficult to imagine the challenges associated with severe alcohol addiction and the experiences of trauma these Vietnam vets experienced.

On the flip side, we have a story of young college grad who was homeless and "makes it." It's a story in the News and Observer. I believe it is true, resources that you have, ie., a college education, no addiction or mental illness, probably makes it easier for you to move out of homelessness. What would happen if the young man had been shipped off to Iraq or Afghanistan, had no high school education, with little access to mental health services? Maybe a different story?

The good news and the bad news.

Within the last few days, HUD announced a drop in the number of chronic homeless people. The success of 1) targeting the most at-risk folks who are the high-end users of all sorts of services, and 2) moving them into permanent housing seems to be working. CBS even picked up the story. That's the good news.

The bad news is that nearly a quarter of all those who are homeless are veterans. Notice that younger veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq are finding their way to shelters. The impact of PTSD is most likely going to result in mental health issues that incapacitate some of these young men. Unfortunately, the federal government is not doing much about this yet. I wonder who will create the safety net.

The debate goes on....

The last couple of days, I've been involved in a debate about what should we be doing to deal with the homeless situation? Everyone agrees that it is problematic for people to be living on the street, but what is the most timely way in which to deal with it?

Some say, "Let's create more shelter beds so that people can have a place to sleep."

Others (myself included) argue, "We've been building emergency shelter for over 20 years and the real reason we turn people away each night is because there is no permanent housing for those who are currently staying in the shelters to go to. "

"But that takes too much time," argue those who want something to be done now.

What do we do? How do we build permanent supportive housing fast enough to really solve this problem? What do you think?

Project Homeless Connects were successful -share your stories

Thursday morning was rainy and I was a bit worried when I got up. The temperature had dropped overnight and we had three Project Homeless Connects, one each in Wake, Durham, and Orange County. However, despite the rain, it seems that all three events were successful. In total over 850 homeless people received services.

I was priviledged to be coordinating volunteers for the Raleigh event which was held in Moore Square. Over 200 volunteers and 60 service providers assisted over 500 people access services. At least one person found permanent housing that day and 3 others entered drug treatment directly.

Of course the day was not perfect, but all in all it was incredibly successful. Take a look at all the press coverage. My favorite photo of the day can be found at number four in the photo gallery.

I'm hoping that some of you will share your comments and experiences.

DTH on the Orange County Plan

The Daily Tar Heel is the newspaper for UNC-CH. They have a great story on Orange County's 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Check it out.

And here is a great Q & A session with NC's Senator Richard Burr. We've come a long way in North Carolina to have a Senatory who can talk about this.


Sorry for the short snipits, but the three Project Homeless Connects are two days away and I'm coordinating 150 volunteers at the Raleigh event.

Wimington Needs a Project Coordinator for its 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness

10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness
Project Manager

A community collaboration, coordinated by United Way of the Cape Fear Area, seeks a manager to provide leadership in implementing the 10-Year Plan that will develop housing options, support services, and enhance collaboration among the initiative’s partners.

Work includes significant community engagement activities, fundraising, strategic planning, meeting coordination and facilitation and project management.

Requirements: Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred), experience leading complex teams, nonprofit or government agency experience; minimum of 5 years relevant experience in leadership capacity; excellent oral and written communications skills; Microsoft Office experience; ability to work with and take direction from volunteer leadership.

Helpful background/skills: understanding housing/homelessness issues, nonprofit management, volunteer management, strong community relations.

Hiring Range: $45,000 - $50,000, depending on experience

Submit a cover letter and resume to United Way, PO Box 1503, Wilmington, NC 28402 or pamela.wyatt@cfauw.org by close of business November 12, 2007.
E.O.E.

The countdown begins

Three Project Homeless Connects are happening next Thursday throughout the Triangle. For more information go to TUW's website.

Pathways to Wealth Conference

The last couple of days I've been to a conference on asset building. It was hosted by the IDA and Asset Buildling Collaborative of North Carolina and EITC Carolinas. There were many workshops about the differing types of financial literacy curriculums, how to set-up IDA's, how to promote entrepreneurial businesses. The conference also reminded me that over the years the federal government promotes asset building and gives people opportunities to build their assets. However, the types of opportunities depend on who you are and what kind of assets you already have.
One of the presenters was a woman by the name of Meizhu Lui, the Executive Director of United for a Fair Economy and co-author of The Color of Wealth: The Story Behind the Racial Wealth Inequality. She used a slide that really struck me about housing. In one column showing the federal government's investment of $70B for Home Mortgage Interest Deductions and the other column showing the $24.5 B that is spent on Homeless Assistance, Public Housing and Section 8 housing. I simply forgot that every time I take my interest deduction on my taxes I get a government benefit. When I bought my first home, I qualified for a Mortgage Credit, that was a government benefit. It seems a bit unfair to me that the more expensive a home and the larger mortgage you have the greater benefit you get to help you build your own personal wealth. It seems interesting then that if you have no assets, the assistance you receive is simply to maintain housing rather than as an incentive to try to build your own assets and invest in owning a home or renting on your own.