2012 Report on the Homeless Populations in Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties

Transcription

1 2012 Report on the Homeless Populations in Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties Prepared for the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville, Inc. Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives Department of Sociology and Anthropology University of North Florida Jacksonville, FL Jeffry A. Will, Director and Professor of Sociology Tracy A. Milligan, Assistant Director July 2012

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 4 Point-In-Time Count... 5 Total... 5 Demographic Characteristics... 5 Education and Employment... 5 Experiences with Homelessness... 5 Other Life Experiences... 5 Health... 6 Assessment of Needs... 6 Conclusion and Recommendations... 6 I. OVERVEW AND METHODS... 7 Defining Homelessness... 7 Methods... 8 Point-In-Time Count... 8 Challenges II. POINT-IN-TIME COUNT...13 Total Demographics Race/Ethnicity Sex and Ages Marital and Household Status Education, Employment, and Income Education Employment Income Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless Transient and Resident Homeless Individuals Reasons for Homelessness Chronically Homeless Individuals Other Life Experiences Military Service Foster Care Domestic Violence Disabling Conditions Assessment of Needs III. JACKSONVILLE BEACHES...29 Point-In-Time Count Total

3 Demographics Education, Employment, and Income Experiences with Homelessness Other Life Experiences Disabling Conditions Assessment of Needs IV. CLAY COUNTY...39 Point-In-Time Count Total Demographics Education, Employment, and Income Experiences with Homelessness Other Life Experiences Assessment of Needs V. NASSAU COUNTY...49 Point-In-Time Count Total Demographics Education, Employment, and Income Employment Income Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless Reasons for Homelessness Chronically Homeless Individuals Other Life Experiences Military Service Foster Care Domestic Violence Disabling Conditions Assessment of Needs VI. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS...60 VII. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...62 VIII. APPENDIX

4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For over 20 years, the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville (ESHC) has conducted an annual census and survey to measure the number and needs of homeless individuals in Duval County. Since then, Clay, and Nassau Counties have joined the efforts and conduct a count in their respective county. The census and survey is a collaborative project carried out by ESHC, United Way of Northeast Florida (United Way), and the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives (CCI) at the University of North Florida (UNF). The data collected from the counts and survey are analyzed and utilized to assess and plan services for homeless people, and to develop the Continuum of Care (CoC) according to federal guidelines established by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Since 2000, two separate counting methods have been utilized to obtain an estimate of the number of homeless individuals living in the area. One count, which is mandated by HUD, is a point-in-time (PIT) count in which homeless persons are enumerated on one given day. This year s point-in-time count and survey was conducted on January 25, More than 75 volunteers, primarily UNF students, staff, and faculty, ESHC members, and service providers, surveyed homeless individuals at homeless shelters and facilities as well as on the streets. While the survey is not a federal requirement, it complements the PIT count as it provides valuable information concerning the plight of homeless persons in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas to ESHC, service providers, and the community as a whole. Additionally, the survey data has more recently been used to calculate a more accurate count of the homeless population. The other count, the annual count, tallies each homeless individual who receives services within a one-year time frame. This report covers only the 2012 PIT; the annual count was not available at the time of this report. A brief overview of the project findings is presented below: 4

5 Point-In-Time Count Total Total counted: 2,861 adults and children o Duval County: 2,533 Beaches: 72 o Clay County: 244 o Nassau County: 84 This is a 31.4 percent decrease from the previous point-in-time count Demographic Characteristics There was an overrepresentation of Blacks at 55.5 percent 69.7 percent of the participants were male Mean age was 40 years Six percent were Hispanic / Latino Education and Employment Almost two-thirds (61.3 percent) of the survey participants had a high school diploma/equivalency or higher Ten percent of the survey respondents were employed Experiences with Homelessness Sixteen percent of the homeless individuals had been homeless four or more times One out of five (20.8 percent) of the individuals had been homeless for one year or longer Nearly three-fourths (71.3 percent) of the survey respondents had been in their respective county one year or longer Half (51.1 percent) of the United Way and survey participants reported an employment or financial reason for being homeless According to HUD s definition, 15.4 percent of the individuals were considered to be chronically homeless Other Life Experiences Fourteen percent of the homeless individuals had served in the US military One out of ten of the United Way and survey participants had been in foster care One-fifth of the United Way and survey participants identified themselves as a survivor or victim of domestic violence 5

6 Health Over half (56.4 percent) of the United Way and survey participants claimed to have at least one disabling condition Over half (56.1 percent) of the survey participants believed they were at least in good health Assessment of Needs Top 3 needs identified: Housing/Shelter 70.6 percent Job 45.4 percent Medical 33.7 percent Food/Meals 29.1 percent Conclusion and Recommendations There was a 31.4 percent decrease in the PIT count from last year. It is doubtful that the homeless population in Northeast Florida took such a dramatic turn. Rather, data cleaning and methods in pulling the data offer some explanations for the decrease. It is recommended that ESHC continue to stress the importance of data quality and provide training and technical assistance to local agencies. It is recommended that ESHC and CCI reexamine the role of the street count and survey and look for opportunities that can answer valuable questions about the homeless population. In turn, such information can be used to better serve the homeless community. 6

7 I. OVERVEW AND METHODS For over 20 years, the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville (ESHC) has conducted an annual census and survey to measure the number and needs of homeless individuals in Duval County. Since then, Clay, and Nassau Counties have joined the efforts and conduct a count in their respective county. The census and survey is a collaborative project carried out by ESHC, United Way of Northeast Florida (United Way), and the Northeast Florida Center for Community Initiatives (CCI) at the University of North Florida (UNF). The data collected from the counts and survey are analyzed and utilized to assess and plan services for homeless people, and to develop the Continuum of Care (CoC) according to federal guidelines established by HUD. Since 2000, two separate counting methods have been utilized to obtain an estimate of the number of homeless individuals living in the area. One count, which is mandated by HUD, is a point-in-time (PIT) count in which homeless persons are enumerated on one given day. The other count, the annual count, tallies homeless individuals who receive services within a oneyear time frame. This report covers only the 2012 PIT; the annual count was not available at the time of this report. Defining Homelessness The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) establishes the federal guidelines for including individuals in the homeless PIT. According to the general HUD definition, an individual is homeless if he or she (1) lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and (2) has a primary nighttime residence that is (A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations; (B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or (C) a public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings. 1 For the point-in-time count, HUD does not include individuals who are doubling up, staying in a hotel paid by themselves, formerly homeless living in permanent housing (including Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Programs (HPRP)), children temporarily placed in an institution due to homelessness, or adults in mental health, chemical dependency, or criminal justice facilities. 2 1 US Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2 US Department of Housing and Urban Development. 7

8 Methods Data used to calculate the annual and PIT counts come from The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), service providers, the street count, and/or surveys. Staff at United Way manage HMIS, a system that service providers in our area use to collect data on homeless persons accessing services. Participating service providers that do not utilize HMIS submit their data in password protected Excel spreadsheets to the HMIS manager at United Way. While United Way collects annual and PIT count data from service providers, ESHC and CCI coordinate the survey and the PIT street count. Point-In-Time Count The 2012 PIT count data is a combination of data gathered from service providers by the HMIS manager as described above, as well as from the street count and survey conducted on January 25th. ESHC recruited and organized volunteers for the street count and survey and CCI coordinated the survey at a number of Duval County service providers. CCI staff also conducted multiple trainings for all counties involved to ensure that all volunteers were familiar with the survey instrument, counting procedures, proper etiquette, and safety precautions. Street counts were conducted in Duval, Nassau, and Clay Counties. Each county was divided into zones: Duval County was divided into 13 zones, Nassau County into five, and Clay County into three zones (see Figures I-1 3). Each zone had a Zone Commander who was responsible for recruiting volunteers and coordinating the efforts for their zone. Locations of homeless camps and other areas frequented by homeless individuals were gathered from previous years as well as through the assistance of local police officers. Trained volunteers conducted the street count during a specific time frame and collected demographic information including sex, race, age (adult or child), whether the person was part of a family unit, and whether or not the individual was surveyed. 8

9 9

10 The street count is coordinated to prevent duplicated numbers as much as possible (challenges in estimating the homeless population are discussed below). First, the street zones are created so that one team of volunteers is counting in one area and not overlapping, or counting in areas more than once. Second, the street count takes place during specific time periods rather than all day, which reduces the chances of someone being seen and counted more than once. Third, it is conducted in the early morning or in the evening so that individuals who are staying at a shelter are not on the streets and therefore are not counted at an agency as well as on the street. For the past couple of years, individuals encountered in Zone 9, where a great majority of Duval County s services are located, were not included unless they were surveyed to avert duplication. However, count sheets were completed on individuals found in this zone in the early morning hours before clients would have left an overnight shelter. To supplement the count data, the annual homeless survey was also conducted in conjunction with the street count. The survey replicates many of the variables collected in HMIS as well as a couple of additional questions. While the survey is not a federal requirement, it complements the PIT count as it provides valuable information concerning the plight of homeless persons in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas to ESHC, service providers, and the community as a whole. Additionally, the survey data is used to calculate a more accurate count of the homeless population. While the count sheets were limited to the streets, the survey was conducted both on the streets as well as at many service agencies. More than 75 volunteers, primarily University of 10

11 North Florida (UNF) students, staff, and faculty, ESHC members, and service providers, assisted with the count and survey (see the Appendix for a copy of the count sheet and survey). This year, United Way staff and service providers entered the survey data into HMIS. Survey participants were asked for their ServicePoint card number, if they had one, to eliminate duplicate entries into HMIS. United Way provided CCI with data from HMIS as well as from non-hmis participating service providers. United Way staff deduplicated individual files while CCI research members were responsible for merging all of the data files and deduplicating the final database. United Way and CCI staff used multiple identifiers (client ID, Social Security Number, first and last name, and/or birth date) to locate and eliminate duplicate entries to the greatest extent possible. CCI was responsible for then analyzing and reporting the data. Challenges As stated in previous reports, estimating the extent of homelessness in any area is just that an estimate. The complexity of issues surrounding homelessness creates obstacles in arriving at exact counts. Such issues stem from defining homelessness and the ways in which homeless individuals adapt to their situation. For instance, homeless persons are known to pool their resources together to temporarily rent hotel rooms and others may find temporary places to sleep with family members or friends. A number of homeless people also find shelter in the woods through makeshift camps, especially given the unseasonably warm weather experienced in Northeast Florida. As a result, individuals in the situations described above as well as many others are not seen nor counted during the PIT count. Even with the safeguards in place to reduce duplication, there is some risk of double counting individuals during the street count. However, countered with the fact that there are portions of the population that go uncounted, it is unlikely that any duplication that may occur from the street count significantly affects the overall count. Furthermore, it would be a great disservice to the homeless population to exclude those not receiving services from the count simply because of a slight possibility of double counting. Another obstacle in obtaining an accurate count of the homeless population is the size of the area in which the census takes place. Jacksonville is one of the largest cities in the United States in terms of land mass, and to count a hidden population in such a large span is extremely difficult. Nassau and Clay Counties experience challenges as well, particularly in the more rural areas. It should also be noted that while the magnitude of homelessness is clear, the specific census results are subject to some variation across years. Weather, volunteer efforts, and data entry on the part of service agencies are variables affecting the numbers and the quality of the data collected. Recruiting a sufficient number of volunteers to cover all of the zones and training is crucial for gathering accurate and complete data. 11

12 Although the service provider data continues to show improvement, data quality should remain a priority. Quality service provider data is critical to the process given this data accounts for a great proportion of the count and is directly tied to funding. United Way staff and the Data Committee continue to strategize to ensure thorough, accurate, and unduplicated data. Despite these challenges, the homeless counts are some of the only data available and are vital to the process of understanding and addressing homelessness. 12

13 Total II. POINT-IN-TIME COUNT Using the data from United Way, surveys, and count sheets, it was estimated that 2,861 individuals (adults and children) were homeless according to HUD s definition in Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties on January 25, 2012 (see Figure II-1). This year s PIT count is a 31.4 percent decrease from the previous point-in-time count (see Figure II-2). 3 decrease is partly due to an increased effort over the past couple of years to close out client records in HMIS as well as ensuring guidelines are followed when determining who should be included. For example, the 2012 Housing Inventory Count and Pointin-Time Count of Homeless United Way Persons Data Collection (2,166) Guidance was very specific as 75.7% to what time frame the count should take place. It is estimated that 53.9 percent of the homeless were sheltered the night of the count, which is somewhat consistent with the most recent results from 2005 to Figure II-1: Data Sources (n = 2,861) This significant Count Sheet (368) 12.9% Although duplication can occur when estimating the number of homeless individuals, precautions were taken to eliminate such duplications. For example, ServicePoint card numbers and birth dates were collected for the surveys (see Methods for a detailed explanation). Survey (327) 11.4% As previously mentioned, the PIT count totals are also somewhat affected by the extent of the volunteer effort to walk the streets and count homeless persons. As in the past, ESHC, the Coalition for the Homeless of Nassau County, and Clay County worked diligently to 3 The 2010 total has been amended. Individuals who were housed in permanent supportive housing and HPRP were originally included. Such individuals do not fit the HUD definition of homeless and should not have been counted. 4 Shelter status was unavailable for

14 coordinate the efforts of this year s count and had numerous volunteers walk the respective counties. Not surprising given the county populations, Duval County accounted for a vast majority of the total count. There were an estimated 2,533 homeless individuals in Duval County, 244 homeless persons counted in Clay County, and 84 were accounted for in Nassau County. 14

15 Figure II-2: Point-In-Time Counts, ,500 4,000 3,594 4,093 4,173 3,500 3,000 2,768 2,931 2,684 2,743 2,821 2,861 2,500 2,211 2,210 2,000 1,500 1, ,549 1,618 1,776 1,135 1,125 1,045 1,542 1,319 Total Sheltered Unsheltered Source: United Way and ESHC Street Count Notes: included Duval and Clay Counties; included Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties; 2010 included Duval, Clay, Nassau, and Baker Counties; 2011 and 2012 included Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties 15

16 Demographics Race/Ethnicity Previous results have consistently shown that Blacks are overrepresented within the area s homeless population. As seen in Figure II-3, the data from the 2012 homeless census shows that Blacks comprised over half (55.5 percent) of the homeless population despite only accounting for 24.7 percent of the total population of Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties combined in The percentage of those who identified as Other, which includes American Indian / Alaskan Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian / Other Pacific Islander, and multiple racial backgrounds remained similar from the last couple of years at 3.3 percent. A separate question related to Hispanic / Latino origin was collected, and found that 6.1 percent of the population was of Hispanic descent (n = 2,464). Sex and Ages Figure II-3: Race (n = 2,658) White 41.2% Black 55.5% Source: United Way, Count Sheets, and Survey Other 3.3% Males have represented the significant majority of the area s homeless population and this continues to be the trend at 69.7 percent of the homeless population were males (n = 2,699). United Way data included categories for transgender and other. There was one transgender individual male to female and two persons who considered their gender to be other. The ages of participants ranged from less than one year to 82 years of age, with a mean age of 40 years. Sixteen percent of the participants were under the age of 18, which is much higher than the past few years. This is possibly due to better data entry into HMIS. Nearly two-thirds (63.3 percent) of participants were between the ages of 26 and 55, with more than one out of four (28.7 percent) being 46 to 55. Fourteen percent were over the age of 55 (Figure II-4). Homeless males tended to be older than their female peers. The mean age among males was 42, while the mean for females was US Census,

17 3 2 1 Source: United Way, Count Sheets, and Survey Note: Count sheet data collected less detailed age categories. Therefore, only those under the age of 18 are included in the figure above from this data source. Marital and Household Status As in years past, the large majority (86.1 percent) of adult United Way and survey participants were single, which included anyone not married at time of data collection (n = 1,594). Over three-fourths (79.0 percent) of all participants were not with other family members, including 28 unaccompanied youth (see Figure II-5). 6 This is lower than past findings of around 95 percent. Of the respondents, 20.0 percent were in a household of two or more with at least one child, representing 203 households. A large majority of these families were sheltered in emergency or transitional shelters, while 7.2 percent were unsheltered. The percentage of persons in a household with children is much higher than prior results. These changes may simply reflect improved data quality rather than actual shifts in the homeless population. 15.6% 7.3% Figure II-4: Age (n = 2,411) 14.9% 19.7% 28.7% 12.6% 1.2% Under to to to to to 65 Over 65 Figure II-5: Household Status (n = 2,861) Without family 79. Other 21. With someone other than children 1. With children 20. Source: United Way and Survey 6 The family status figures for United Way were calculated assuming that those without household type data were not staying with anyone. 17

18 Education, Employment, and Income Education Education is a critical component of the social capital needed to secure stable jobs that pay a living wage. As seen in Figure II-6, 61.3 percent of survey respondents achieved at least a high school diploma, which is approximately ten percentage points lower than last year s findings. This is also considerably less than the general population of the area in which at least 87.9 percent of those 25 and older have a high school education or more. 7 Among the surveyed homeless individuals, 4.5 percent had completed a Bachelor or advanced degree Figure II-6: Educational Attainment (n = 315) 38.7% 36.5% 18.7% 2.9% 1.6% 1.6% Less than HS HS / GED AA / some college Bachelors Advanced Degree Other Source: Survey Employment While education is closely related to employment status, residents across the US have experienced a struggling economy and increased unemployment over the past few years. In February 2012, the unemployment rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area was approximately two percentage points lower than last year at 8.8 percent.8 As the data shows, the homeless survey participants in Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties was much more likely to be unemployed than the overall population. In fact, 89.7 percent of the homeless were unemployed at the time of the survey (Figure II-7). Only 2.3 percent had a full- or part-time job, while 4.7 percent were employed temporarily and 3.3 percent were employed on a seasonal basis. 7 (Duval, 87.9; Clay, 89.9; Nassau 90.2) US Census American Community Survey. 8 US Bureau of Labor Statistics. 18

19 Figure II-7: Employment Status (n = 301) Full time, 2. Part time, 0.3% Not at all, 89.7% Temporary, 4.7% Seasonally, 3.3% Source: Survey As seen in Figure II-8, the unemployment rate among the homeless population has been steadily increasing over the past few years and is considerably higher than it was in In fact, the percentage of those unemployed increased 27 percent between 2008 and 2012 and has more than doubled since Figure II-8: Employment Status 2001 to Full-time Part-time Unemployed Source: United Way and Survey Note: Full- and part-time employment categories were collapsed in Temporarily and seasonally were collapsed into part-time employment in 2010 and

20 Income Almost one-third (31.8 percent) of the homeless individuals with income data reported having no financial resources within the past 30 days (see Figure II-9). Earned income was the most often cited source of income at 26.4 percent. Fifteen percent had received SSI and eight percent had received SSDI. Six percent of individuals claimed they had received unemployment. Other less common sources of income included child support, TANF, alimony, veteran s disability and pension, and general assistance. Figure II-9: Source of Income (n = 870) 35% 31.8% % 25% 2 15% % 11.8% 7.5% 6. 5% Source: United Way and Survey As seen in Figure II-10, the most common cited source of non-cash benefits was SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) at 86.6 percent. Approximately one out of eight had received Medicaid and one out of nine had received benefits from an other source in the last 30 days. A few people claimed to have received TANF child care services and VA Medical Services. 20

21 Figure II-10: Source of Non-Cash Benefits (n = 801) % % 11.5% Source: United Way and Survey Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless SNAP (Food Stamps) MEDICAID Other Source As previously discussed, United Way, count sheets, and survey data were combined for the PIT analysis. While many of the results were similar between those who were surveyed for the PIT and those not, some results varied. 9 This is possibly due to the fact that United Way data is collected at point of service entry and not necessarily the date of the PIT. More than half (53.9 percent) of the homeless individuals were homeless for the first time in the past three years, while 16.1 percent of the homeless individuals had been homeless four or more times (n = 1,707). As seen in Figure II-11, United Way participants who were not surveyed for the PIT were more likely to have been experiencing their first episode of homelessness than survey participants. Indeed, 56.7 percent of United Way individuals were homeless for the first time compared to 41.5 percent of those surveyed. Conversely, over one-fourth (28.5 percent) of the survey participants were homeless four or more times compared to only 13.3 percent of the United Way individuals not surveyed. 9 Some graphs illustrate the differences between those surveyed (Survey) and those not surveyed (United Way). 21

22 Figure II-11: Number of Times Homeless in Past Three Years by Data Source 56.7% % % 28.5% 13.3% 2 1 Time 2 to 3 Times 4 or More Times Source: United Way and Survey United Way (n = 1,391) Survey (n = 316) The length of homelessness was also collected. Over one-fourth (28.4 percent) of the individuals had been homeless for less than one week and 43.7 percent had been homeless for less than one month (n = 1,706). One out of five had been homeless for at least one year. The length of individuals current homelessness differed significantly between the survey participants and those in the United Way data who had not been surveyed. Individuals who were not surveyed were typically homeless for a shorter amount of time than survey participants. Almost half (48.1 percent) of those not surveyed had been homeless less than one month, while only about one in four (24.4 percent) of the survey participants had been homeless the same length of time (see Figure II-12). Forty-four percent of the survey participants had been homeless a year or longer compared to only 15.5 percent of those in the United Way dataset not surveyed. Again these differences may be due to when the data is collected from participants receiving services. Figure II-12: Length of Time Homeless by Data Source % 43.9% % % 20.1% 11.6% 15.5% Less than 1 Month Source: United Way and Survey 1 to 3 Months More than 3 Months, but Less than 1 Year 1 Year or More United Way (n = 1,387) Survey (n = 319) 22

23 Transient and Resident Homeless Individuals Stereotypes brand the homeless as a transient population, but the PIT survey has consistently disproved this supposition. As in the past, about three out of four (71.3 percent) respondents reported they had been in their respective counties for at least one year (see Figure II-13). Thirteen percent of survey respondents had spent three months or less in their current county. Figure II-13: Length of Time in Respective County (n = 303) % % 6.9% 16.2% Source: Survey Less than 1 Month 1 to 3 Months More than 3 Months, but Less than 1 Year 1 Year or More Reasons for Homelessness Similar to past survey results, employment or financial reasons were the most cited reasons among the United Way and survey participants. As seen in Figure II-14, approximately half of the participants chose this as the principle cause for their current living situation. This is not surprising given the high rate of unemployment (87.2 percent) among the survey respondents. The Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a onebedroom apartment in Clay, Duval and I was part of the real estate business and became homeless during the market collapse. Nassau counties was $716 in Homeless female in Jacksonville Household income would need to be at least $28,640 in order to pay rent for a onebedroom apartment at FMR and to be no more than 30 percent of the household income. The second most often identified reason was forced relocation at 26.6 percent. Medical or disability problems were a primary reason for 15.1 percent of the participants. 10 National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach 2012: Florida. 23

24 Figure II-14: Primary Reason for Homelessness (n = 1,879) % Employment / Financial Source: United Way and Survey 26.6% Forced to relocate from home 15.1% Medical / Disability Problems 6. Family Problems 1.1% Housing Issues Chronically Homeless Individuals According to HUD s definition, chronically homeless individuals 1) are adults 18 or older 2) have a disabling condition, 3) are unaccompanied, 4) are staying in an emergency shelter or on the streets, and 5) have been homeless four or more times in the past three years or are currently homeless one year or longer. 11 individuals with sufficient data were considered chronically homeless (n = 2,362). While this is lower than last year s results, it is consistent with percentages from previous years. 12 It is not surprising that those surveyed for the PIT were much more likely to be chronically homeless than those not surveyed. As seen in Figure II-15, more 4 2 Using HUD s definition, 15.4 percent of the homeless Figure II-15: Chronically Homeless by Data Source United Way (n = 2,042) Source: United Way and Survey 12.1% 35.9% Surveyed (n = 320) 11 US Department of Housing and Urban Development. (October 2004). HUD s Homeless Assistance Programs: A Guide to Counting Unsheltered Homeless People. 12 The agency that entered the data for United Way participants was used to determine shelter status. Individuals whose data was entered by a non-shelter agency were identified as unsheltered and having slept in a place not meant for habitation to determine chronic homeless status. 24

25 than one out of three (35.9 percent) persons surveyed were chronically homeless compared to 12.1 percent of those not surveyed. Over three-fourths (76.3 percent) of all chronically homeless were unsheltered while the remaining were in emergency shelter. HUD defines a chronically homeless family as one that has an adult who meets the criteria for chronically homeless except he or she is not unaccompanied. Forty-nine individuals were within a family unit considered to be chronically homeless; all but three were staying in an emergency shelter. Other Life Experiences Military Service Fourteen percent of United Way and survey participants reported serving in the military (n = 2,036). While the survey has consistently found that approximately one-fourth of the homeless has served in the US military, one out of five (20.7 percent) of those surveyed this year had served. Only 13.1 percent of the individuals not surveyed claimed to have served in the military (see Figure II- 16.) Foster Care Research has shown 1 that individuals who come from foster United Way (n = 1,713) Survey (n = 323) care are more likely Source: United Way and Survey to be vulnerable to homelessness, due in part to the lack of familial and social supports, especially in times of crisis. Approximately one out of ten (9.5 percent) of homeless individuals were currently or previously in foster care, which is consistent with previous results (n = 1,557). Results were very similar between those surveyed for PIT and those not surveyed. Domestic Violence 3 2 Figure II-16: Served Military by Data Source 13.1% 20.7% Domestic violence has many detrimental effects upon families, sometimes resulting in homelessness for those trying to escape abuse. Approximately one out of five (21.1 percent) of United Way individuals and survey participants were identified as a domestic violence survivor or victim (n = 1,710). Those surveyed were as likely to experience domestic violence as those not surveyed for the PIT. 25

26 Disabling Conditions Low-income individuals and homeless persons, in particular, are known to struggle with a number of health related issues, more so than the general population. These populations suffer from problems such as higher incidences of communicable diseases, mental health problems, substance abuse concerns, and dental issues. While the cause and effect mechanism (which came first) may not be clear, it is evident that these are debilitating circumstances for people on the street. HUD has identified particular conditions as disabling, including physical and developmental disabilities, mental health issues, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS. More than half (56.4 percent) of the United Way and survey participants had a disability (n = 2,100). Survey participants were more likely to claim a disability than those not surveyed for the PIT; 69.9 percent compared to 53.8 percent respectively. While physical disabilities have historically been the most often cited disability, a larger percentage of individuals for whom data was obtained claimed to have a substance abuse problem this year (see Figure II-17). Indeed, 23.6 percent of individuals had such a disability compared to 21.2 percent who had a physical ailment. One out of five homeless individuals had a mental health issue. Few participants disclosed that they had a developmental disability or HIV/AIDS (1.0 percent and 2.7 percent respectively). While the percentage of homeless experiencing a substance abuse problem is higher than in the past, the other percentages are somewhat similar to previous results. Figure II-17: Disabling Conditions (n = 2,100) 25% 23.6% % 2 15% 1 5% % Substance Abuse Source: United Way and Survey Mental Physical Developmental HIV/AIDS 26

27 Survey participants were also asked to rate their general health. Although over half of the survey respondents claimed to have at least one disability, 56.1 percent believed their health was excellent, very good, or good (Figure II-18). Thirty percent considered their health to be fair and one out of seven (14.4 percent) thought they were in poor health. Assessment of Needs Source: Survey To better serve those who are experiencing homelessness, the survey participants were asked to name the top three services that they or their family need most. Since survey respondents were able to select more than one service the percentages do not total 100 percent. The ranking of services has remained consistent over the past couple of years. The majority of respondents continue to cite housing or shelter as a most important need at 70.6 percent (Figure II-19). Reflective of the economy, employment was identified as a need by almost half of the respondents (45.6 percent). Employment was followed by medical needs (33.7 percent) and food (29.1 percent). Additional needs What I see is a lack of resources for women during the day for those lacking employment or family. A lot of women are addicted, have nowhere to go except library (opens at 9). There s nowhere for a homeless woman to go at 6am! Homeless female in Jacksonville Figure II-18: Rate General Health (n = 312) Fair 29.5% Good 33.3% Poor 14.4% Very Good 14.7% Excellent 8. included financial assistance or securing benefits, transportation, clothes, and day center type services (not all categories are shown in the graph). Other needs were varied but a number of them were related to case management or counseling, religion, or child care. 27

28 Figure II-19: Top 3 Needs (n = 282) % % 33.7% 29.1% 17.4% 13.1% 10.6% 5.3% Source: Survey 28

29 III. JACKSONVILLE BEACHES This section presents a more in-depth description of the homeless persons counted and surveyed at Jacksonville Beach, Neptune Beach, and Atlantic Beach in an effort to understand the conditions facing homeless persons in the Beaches communities. The Beaches area offers, in many ways, a very different atmosphere for homeless persons than the Downtown area where many people were surveyed. The primary difference is the lack of a regular overnight shelter in the Beaches area. Several churches provide the only overnight accommodations on a rotating basis when the temperature is 40 degrees or lower, which only occurs a few nights each winter. Another feature of the Beaches area is that it is 18 miles from Downtown. Although the Beaches have added services available to the homeless, the distance to Downtown prohibits a number of homeless at the Beach from taking advantage of the many services offered by providers in the Downtown area. The following information was gathered through United Way, count sheets and surveys (see discussion of methodology in the Overview and Methods section). The count and survey were conducted at various street and wooded locations throughout the Beaches area as well as at the Mission House in Jacksonville Beach. Hope Team staff aided in the efforts to help identify potential homeless individuals and to determine the likelihood of them visiting Mission House later in the day. Point-In-Time Count Total There were 72 individuals counted at the Beaches including United Way, count sheets, and surveys. This represents an 85.5 percent decrease from last year s PIT. The dramatic decrease stems from a decrease in service data reported from HMIS as survey and count sheet data was similar to previous years. 29

30 Demographics Race/Ethnicity The racial composition of the homeless population at the Beaches is much different than the racial composition of the overall homeless population. As seen in Figure III-1, whites comprised 80.5 percent of the homeless population at the Beaches, compared to 41.2 percent of overall PIT population. Eighteen percent were Black and 1.4 percent were another race. Similar to last year, 7.1 percent of the homeless were identified as Hispanic (n = 70). Sex and Age Just over three-fourths (76.4 percent) of the homeless individuals in the Beaches area were males (n = 72). Figure III-1: Race, Beaches (n = 72) White 80.5% Black 18.1% Other 1.4% Ages of individuals at the Beaches ranged from 24 to 63 with a mean age of 43. Street count sheets do Source: United Way, Count Sheets, and Survey not collect detailed age so Figure III-2 does not include individuals not surveyed. As seen in the figure, the majority of participants (80.7 percent) were in the range of 26 to 55, with 29.8 percent being 46 to 55 years old. Sixteen percent were between the ages of 56 and 65. Females tended to be slightly younger than males with a mean age for 42 compared to 44 among males. 3 Figure III-2: Age, Beaches (n = 57) 24.6% 26.3% 29.8% % % Under to to to to to 65 Over 65 Source: United Way and Survey Note: Count sheet data collected less detailed age categories. Therefore, only those under the age of 18 could have been included in the figure above. However, no one counted on the count sheets were under

31 Marital and Household Status Like last year, a vast majority (94.5 percent) of United Way and survey participants were not married (n = 55). As seen in Figure III-3, all but two individuals were living without other family members (n = 72); one of whom had a child living with her (although the child apparently did not receive services on the day of the PIT). Education, Employment, and Income Education Similar to the overall homeless Figure III-3: Household Status, Beaches (n = 72) Source: United Way and Survey Without family, 97.2% Other, 2.8% With someone other than children, 1.4% With children, 1.4% population, less than two-thirds survey respondents at the Beaches had at least a high school diploma (see Figure III-4). Approximately one-fifth (21.2 percent) of the survey respondents had some college or an associate s degree. An additional three percent had earned a bachelor s degree. Figure III-4: Educational Attainment, Beaches (n = 33) 39.4% % 35% 3 25% 21.2% 2 15% 1 5% Less than HS HS AA or some college Source: Survey Bachelors Other 31

32 Employment Thirteen percent of the survey participants at the Beaches were employed in some way (see Figure III-5). This is similar to last year as well as the overall group. Interestingly, ten percent claimed to be working full-time and no one was working part-time. Three percent had a temporary job at the time of the PIT. Figure III-5: Employment Status, Beaches (n = 30) Not at all 86.7% Full time 10. Temporary 3.3% Source: Survey Income As seen in Figure III-6, over half (52.0 percent) of the participants with income data claimed to have had no financial resources over the past 30 days. The most frequently cited source of income among respondents from the Beaches was earned income at 24.0 percent. Twelve percent received SSI and eight percent received SSDI. Only four percent reported receiving veteran s pension within the past 30 days. There were no other income sources identified by the homeless individuals at the Beaches. 32

33 Figure III-6: Source of Income, Beaches (n = 25) No Financial Earned Income SSI SSDI Veteran's Pension Source: United Way and Survey The only two non-cash benefits identified by the homeless individuals at the Beaches were SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) and Medicaid (see Figure III-7). All 18 respondents had received SNAP within the past 30 days while one had also received Medicaid. Figure III-7: Source of Non-Cash Benefits, Beaches (n = 18) SNAP (Food Stamps) 5.6% MEDICAID Source: United Way and Survey 33

34 Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless Survey respondents from the Beaches appeared to have experienced somewhat longer lengths of homelessness than the overall homeless PIT population. Indeed, more than one-third (37.0 percent) of the individuals from the Beaches area had been homeless for a year or longer compared to 20.8 percent of the overall population (see Figure III-8). Fifteen percent of the Beaches respondents had been homeless for less than one month Figure III-8: Length of Time Homeless, Beaches (n = 46) 15.2% Less than 1 week 10.9% More than 1 week, but less than 1 month 15.2% 21.7% 1 to 3 months More than 3 months, but less than 1 year year or more Source: United Way and Survey Almost 60 percent (58.3 percent) of United Way and survey participants at the Beaches were experiencing their first episode of homelessness within the past three years (see Figure III-9). This is similar to the overall PIT population. Twenty-three percent had been homeless at least four times at the beaches compared to 16.1 percent of the overall group. Figure III-9: Number of Times Homeless in Past Three Years, Beaches (n = 48) % 18.8% 22.9% 1 Time 2-3 Times 4 or more Source: United Way and Survey 34

35 Transient and Resident Homeless Individuals Unlike last year, Beaches survey respondents were less likely to have been in the county for a year or more than last year and in comparison to the overall homeless PIT population. Still, the majority (62.5 percent) had been in Duval County at least a year (see Figure III-10). No one had been in the county for less than one month and 12.5 percent had been in the county for one to three months. Figure III-10: Length of Time in Duval County, Beaches (n = 32) % % 25. Source: Survey 1 to 3 months More than 3 months, but less than 1 year 1 year or more Reasons for Homelessness As seen in Figure III-11, almost two-thirds (62.7 percent) of the United Way and survey respondents at the Beaches cited employment or financial problems as the reason they were experiencing homelessness, which is somewhat higher than the overall homeless individuals. Nearly one-fourth (23.5 percent) of participants were forced to leave their home. Medical and disability problems were the cause of homelessness for 11.8 percent of participants. Only one person (2.0 percent) was homeless because of family problems. No one claimed to be homeless due to a natural disaster, housing issues, or recent immigration. I became homeless because the business I worked for closed down. Homeless male in Jacksonville Beaches 35

36 Figure III-11: Primary Reason for Homelessness, Beaches (n = 51) % % 11.8% 2. Employment / Financial Source: United Way and Survey Forced to relocate from home Medical / Disability Problems Family Problems Chronically Homeless Individuals One-third of the individuals at the Beaches (n = 54) were deemed chronically homeless compared to 15.1 percent of the overall population. 13 These results are somewhat lower than results for participants last year. There were no chronically homeless families identified at the Beaches. Other Life Experiences Military Service Eighteen percent of the individuals at the Beaches had served in the US military (n = 56). This is compared to 14.3 percent of the overall PIT population. Foster Care Homeless individuals from the Beaches were slightly less likely than the general homeless population to have been in foster care. Eight percent of the Beaches homeless experienced foster care (n = 40) compared to 9.5 percent of overall individuals. Domestic Violence Approximately one out of five (20.8 percent) of United Way and survey individuals at the Beaches identified themselves as a victim or a survivor of domestic violence (n = 48). These 13 The agency that entered the data for United Way participants was used to determine shelter status. Individuals whose data was entered by a non-shelter agency were identified as unsheltered and having slept in a place not meant for habitation to determine chronic homeless status. 36

37 results are very similar to the overall PIT population and slightly higher than the Beaches results last year. Disabling Conditions Nearly half (48.2 percent) of the Beaches homeless had at least one disability, compared to 56.3 percent of the overall PIT population (n = 56). As seen in Figure III-12, physical disability was the most often cited disability at 21.4 percent of homeless individuals. Thirteen percent had a substance abuse problem and 10.7 percent experienced mental health issues. Only one person (1.8 percent) had a developmental disability at the Beaches. No one claimed to have HIV/AIDS. Figure III-12: Disabling Conditions, Beaches (n = 56) 25% 21.4% 2 15% % 12.5% 5% 1.8% Physical Mental Developmental Substance Abuse Source: United Way and Survey 0. HIV/AIDS Survey participants were also asked how they rate their general health. Nearly half of the respondents felt their health was good, very good, or excellent (see Figure III-13). Eighteen percent believed they were in poor health. 37

38 Figure III-13: Rate General Health, Beaches (n = 33) Fair 33.3% Poor 18.2% Excellent 12.1% Good 27.3% Very Good 9.1% Source: Survey Assessment of Needs When asked to list their top three needs, Beaches survey respondents reflected the overall surveyed population and identified housing or shelter more often than any other need at 84.6 percent (see Figure III-14). Differing from the overall group and past results, Beaches respondents cited food (42.3 percent) above job (38.5 percent) and medical needs (34.6 percent). Other less common needs included transportation, day center needs, and document and legal assistance. Figure III-14: Top 3 Needs, Beaches (n = 26) % % 38.5% 34.6% % 11.5% 11.5% Housing Food Job Medical Clothes Transportation Other Source: Survey 38

39 IV. CLAY COUNTY This section of the report is an analysis of the data collected from homeless individuals in Clay County. Like the Beaches, the demographics, geography, and services of Clay County differ from its larger neighboring county, Duval. Analyzing the Clay County data separately provides a clearer picture of the homeless population in that area. Point-In-Time Count Total A total of 244 homeless individuals were enumerated during the PIT count using data from United Way, count sheets and surveys. This year s count is an increase of percent from last year. 14 It is important to note that there has been a more organized and concerted effort to count and survey the homeless on the streets over the past couple of years, likely contributing in part to the increase. Demographics Race/Ethnicity While the majority of homeless individuals counted in Clay County were white, the percentage was much lower than in years past. Indeed, 69.1 percent (see Figure IV-1) of respondents were white compared to 98.9 percent last year. Over one-fourth (26.0 percent) were Black and five percent were of another race. Fourteen percent of the Clay County participants were Hispanic (n = 223), which is much higher than previous years. Figure IV-1: Race, Clay County (n = 242) White 69.1% Black 26. Other 4.9% Source: United Way, Count Sheets and Survey 14 This increase is calculated based on Clay County numbers for last year which were amended to 105. Ten individuals had been inadvertently identified as Duval County. 39

40 Sex and Age As with the general population, males comprised the majority of the homeless population in Clay County, accounting for 60.1 of the participants (n = 243). Although males represented the majority, this was a smaller percentage than last year which was 74.2 percent. Ages of participants ranged from 1 to 67. A large percentage of the count came from count sheet data which records age in only three categories (under 18, 18-60, and over 60). As a result, it was best to report the data in these categories and not report the mean age. As seen in Figure IV-2, 27.0 percent of the Clay County participants were youth, which is higher than the overall PIT population. Over two-thirds (68.9 percent) were adults between 18 and 60 years of age and 4.1 percent were over the age of Source: United way, Count Sheets and Survey Figure IV-2: Age, Clay County (n = 244) 68.9% 4.1% Over 60 Marital and Household Status Three-fourths of homeless adults in Clay County were not married (n = 36). Just over half (55.7 percent) of all individuals were not currently with family members, which is lower than last year s results and the overall PIT population. As seen in Figure IV-3, over one-third (38.5 percent) of the individuals counted were in a household with a child. 40

41 Figure IV-3: Household Status, Clay County (n = 244) Without family, 55.7% With someone other than children, 5.7% Other, 2.8% With children, 38.5% Source: United Way and Survey Education, Employment, and Income Education The educational attainment of the homeless population in Clay County differed from that of the overall homeless population as well as last year s county results. As seen in Figure IV-4, approximately three out of four (73.7 percent) survey participants had completed at least high school. This is compared to 61.3 percent of the overall PIT population and 96.0 percent of the survey respondents last year. These results are lower than the general population 25 years and older in Clay County (89.9 percent). 15 Twenty-six percent of the homeless individuals have attended some college or received an associate s degree. No one claimed to have earned a bachelor s or advanced degree. 15 US Census American Community Survey. 41

42 Figure IV-4: Educational Attainment, Clay County (n = 19) % % 26.3% Source: Survey Less than HS HS / GED AA / Some College Employment Similar to the overall PIT population, nine out of ten in Clay County homeless individuals were unemployed at the time of the PIT (see Figure IV-5). The eleven percent who were employed were working temporary jobs. This is somewhat similar to results last year. Figure IV-5: Employment Status, Clay County (n = 19) Temporary 10.5% Not at all 89.5% Income Source: Survey Over one-fourth (27.9 percent) of the Clay County homeless individuals had earned income in the past 30 days (see Figure IV-6). Another 27.9 percent had received income from an other 42

43 source. SSI, unemployment, and child support were other forms of income received by 16 to 19 percent of the individuals. The only other sources of income for this group were alimony or other spousal support or general assistance, which were received by only a few individuals. 3 Figure IV-6: Source of Income, Clay County (n = 43) 27.9% 27.9% 25% 2 15% 1 5% 18.6% 16.3% 16.3% Earned Income Other SSI Unemployment Child Support Source: United Way and Survey The only non-cash benefits received by Clay County homeless individuals in the last 30 days were SNAP (87.5 percent), Medicaid (77.1 percent), and other sources (8.3 percent) (see Figure IV-7). These were also the top three benefits received by the overall PIT population. Figure IV-7: Source of Non-Cash Benefits, Clay County (n = 48) 87.5% % % 1 SNAP(Food Stamps) MEDICAID Other Source Source: United Way and Survey 43

44 Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless Almost half (47.2 percent) of the Clay County homeless individuals had been homeless for at least a year, which is higher than results from last year as well as the overall PIT population (see Figure IV-8). Seventeen percent had been homeless for less than one month during the same time period. Figure IV-8: Length of Time Homeless, Clay County (n = 53) % % Less than 1 Month 1 to 3 Months More than 3 Months, but Less than 1 Year 1 Year or More Source: United Way and Survey Clay County individuals were less likely to have experienced homelessness four or more times in the past three years than the overall PIT population. In fact, only 7.7 percent of the Clay County individuals had been homeless for at least four times compared to 16.1 percent of the overall group (see Figure IV-9). More than one-third (38.5 percent) of the Clay County individuals were experiencing homeless for the first time in three years. 44

45 Figure IV-9: Number of Times Homeless in Past Three Years, Clay County (n = 52) % 53.8% 2 7.7% 1 Time 2 to 3 Times 4 or More Times Source: United Way and Survey Transient and Resident Homeless Individuals A great majority of survey participants (81.3 percent) in Clay County had been in the county for at least a year at the time of the PIT. Only 6.3 percent had been in the county for less than one month. Figure IV-10: Length of Time in Clay County (n = 16) % % 6.3% 6.3% Less than 1 Month 1 to 3 Months More than 3 Months, but Less than 1 Year 1 Year or More Source: Survey 45

46 Reasons for Homelessness Reflective of the overall homeless population, the most often identified reasons for homelessness among Clay County participants was employment or financial. Indeed, 73.2 percent of the individuals felt these were the primary reasons for their current situation (see Figure IV-11). Other causes cited by Clay County participants included being forced to relocate (21.4 percent), medical or disability problems (3.6 percent) and housing issues (1.8 percent). No one claimed to have been homeless due to family problems. 8 Figure IV-11: Primary Reason for Homelessness, Clay County (n = 56) 73.2% % 2 3.6% 1.8% Employment / Financial Source: United Way and Survey Forced to Relocate Medical / Disability Problems Housing Issues Chronically Homeless Individuals Only 3.6 percent of the homeless individuals in Clay County were considered chronically homeless (n = 137). This is much lower than the overall PIT population, but similar to last year s results for Clay County. There were no chronically homeless families identified in Clay County. Other Life Experiences Military Service In Clay County, 5.5 percent of homeless individuals had served in the military (n = 55). This is lower than last year s results as well as the overall PIT population. 46

47 Foster Care Four percent of the Clay County homeless individuals had previously lived in a foster care situation (n=52). This is similar to last year, but lower than the overall PIT population of 9.5 percent. Domestic Violence The percentage of homeless individuals who were victims or survivor of domestic violence in Clay County is higher than the overall homeless population. Thirty-six percent of Clay County individuals were victims or survivors of domestic violence (n = 72), compared to 21.1 percent of the overall PIT population. This is also much higher to last year s results for the County, which was 12.2 percent. Disabling Conditions Approximately one out of five (21.8 percent) homeless individuals in Clay County claimed to have at least one disabling condition (n = 55). This is higher than last year, but lower than the overall PIT population. Like the overall homeless population, physical disability was most often cited. However, only 14.5 percent of the participants identified such disabilities (see Figure IV- 12). Few participants identified mental health (5.5 percent) and substance abuse (3.6 percent) issues. No one reported having a developmental disability or that he or she was HIV/AIDS positive. Figure IV-12: Disabling Conditions, Clay County (n = 55) 14.5% 15% 1 5% 5.5% 3.6% Physical Mental Substance Abuse Source: United Way and Survey Survey participants were also asked to rate their general health. Forty-five percent of Clay County survey participants felt their general health was at least good compared to 56.1 percent of the overall PIT population (see Figure IV-13). Eleven percent rated their health poor. 47

48 Figure IV-13: Rate General Health, Clay County (n = 18) Fair 44.4% Poor 11.1% Very Good 11.1% Excellent 5.6% Good 27.8% Source: Survey Assessment of Needs When participants were questioned about what services they or their families needed most, the responses differed from those of the overall homeless population. While housing or shelter was the most often identified need among the overall participants, medical services and transportation tied for the most frequently cited by individuals from Clay County at 47.1 percent (see Figure IV-14). Medical needs were also the top need last year. Forty-one percent claimed to need housing or shelter or a job. Other less common needs included food, mental health needs, day center needs, and clothes. This data exhibits the unique circumstances that homeless individuals face in Clay County. Figure IV-14: Top 3 Needs, Clay County (n = 17) 48% 46% 44% 42% 4 38% Source: Survey 47.1% 47.1% 41.2% 41.2% Medical Transportation Housing Job 48

49 V. NASSAU COUNTY This section of the report is an analysis of the data collected from homeless individuals in Nassau County. Again, this county differs from Duval County in terms of demographics, geography, and services and examining county data independent of the larger sample allows for a more accurate account of the homeless population. This part of the report covers the results from the Nassau County point-in-time count and survey (see discussion of methodology in the Overview and Methods section). Point-In-Time Count Total Eighty-four homeless individuals were identified for the PIT count in Nassau County using United Way, count sheets, and surveys data. This is 27.6 percent less than were counted during last year s count. Demographics Race/Ethnicity Like the Beaches and Clay County, a majority of homeless population were white. In Nassau County, three out of four individuals from the PIT count were white while 23.8 percent was Black (see Figure V- 1). Similar to the overall PIT population, seven percent of participants were identified as Hispanic / Latino. Sex and Age Two-thirds (66.7 percent) of the homeless population in Nassau County were males. The age Figure V-1: Race, Nassau County (n = 84) White 75. Source: United Way, Count Sheets, and Survey Black 23.8% Other 1.2% categories were kept in the three categories from the count sheet (under 18, 18 to 60, and over 60) because the data skewed toward the youth when age was examined at multiple categories as data from the count sheet was lost. Twelve percent of the homeless individuals were youth under 18 (see Figure V-2). Eighty-three percent of the individuals were adults 18 to 60 and 4.8 percent were over the age of

50 Figure V-2: Age, Nassau County (n = 84) % % 4.8% Over 60 Source: United Way, Count Sheets, and Survey Marital and Family Status Similar to last year, a great majority (89.2 percent) of the homeless adults in Nassau County were single (n =37). Three-fourths of the homeless individuals are not residing with a family member (including two unaccompanied children). 16 Almost one out of five (19.1 percent) of the participants was in a household with at least one child (see Figure V-3). This is similar to the overall PIT population. Figure V-3: Household Status, Nassau County (n = 84) Without family 74.9% Other 25.1% With someone other than children 6. With children 19.1% Source: United Way and Survey 16 The figures for United Way assumed that those without household type data were not staying with anyone. 50

51 Education, Employment, and Income Education Just over half (54.3 percent) of the Nassau County survey respondents had obtained a high school diploma or higher education (see Figure V-4). This is lower than the overall survey population as well as the percentage found among the general county residents 25 years and older (90.2 percent). 17 Figure V-4: Educational Attainment, Nassau County (n = 35) % 34.3% Source: Survey 17.1% Less than HS HS / GED AA / Some College 2.9% Advanced Degree Employment Survey participants in Nassau County were less likely to be unemployed at the time of the PIT than the overall survey population. This is also lower than last year s results. As seen in Figure V-5, 71.4 percent of the respondents in Nassau County were not working. One out of five had a temporary job and only three percent were working full-time. 17 US Census American Community Survey. 51

52 Figure V-5: Employment Status, Nassau County (n = 35) Full-time 2.9% Part-time 2.9% Not at all 71.4% Temporary 20. Source: Survey Seasonally 2.9% Income Seven (70.0 percent) of homeless individuals in Nassau County had earned income within the past 30 days (see Figure V-6). Other income, SSDI, and SSI were each identified as sources of income by one person (10.0 percent). There were no other forms of income claimed by the individuals in Nassau County Earned Income Other SSDI SSI Source: United Way and Survey Figure V-6: Source of Income, Nassau County (n = 10) Like the overall PIT population, SNAP (formerly Food Stamps) was the most often identified non-cash benefit among the Nassau County individuals. In fact, virtually everyone (

53 percent) claimed to have received SNAP within the past 30 days. Medicaid and Medicare were each identified by one person as a received benefit. No other benefits were received within the past 30 days. Figure V-7: Source of Non-Cash Benefits, Nassau County (n = 20) SNAP (Food Stamps) MEDICAID MEDICARE Source: United Way and Survey Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless Survey participants in Nassau County were more likely to have been homeless four or more times than the overall PIT population. In fact, 60.0 percent of survey participants had experienced homelessness at least four times compared to 16.1 percent of the overall group (see Figure V-8). Last year, 18.6 percent of the Nassau County respondents had been homeless at least four times. One out of five individuals were homeless for the first time in the past three years. 53

54 Figure V-8: Number of Times Homeless in Past Three Years, Nassau County (n = 35) Time 2 to 3 Times 4 or More Times Source: Survey As seen in Figure V-9, almost two-thirds (63.9 percent) of Nassau County participants had been homeless for at least a year compared to about one-third last year. Six percent of the survey participants had been homeless less than one month. Figure V-9: Length of Time Homeless, Nassau County (n = 36) % 5 5.6% 8.3% 22.2% Less than 1 Month 1 to 3 Months More than 3 Months, but Less than 1 Year 1 Year or More Source: Survey 54

55 Survey participants in Nassau County were less likely than the overall PIT population to have been in the County for a longer period of time. Fifty-seven percent of the Nassau County participants had been in the County for at least one year compared to 71.3 percent of the overall PIT group (see Figure V-10). Eleven percent of the survey participants had been in Nassau County for less than one month. Figure V-10: Length of Time in Nassau County (n = 35) Source: Survey 11.4% 14.3% Less than 1 Month 17.1% 1 to 3 Months More than 3 Months, but Less than 1 Year 57.1% 1 Year or More Reasons for Homelessness The most often cited reason for homelessness among the survey participants in Nassau County was employment or financial, which is similar to the overall homeless population. More than half (57.1 percent) of the participants selected this category of reasons (see Figure V-11). Forced to relocate was also perceived as a primary cause of homelessness at 17.7 percent. Fourteen percent of participants claimed a medical or disability issue as the reason and 11.4 percent identified housing issues. No one reported family problems or recent immigration as the cause of their situation. 55

56 6 Figure V-11: Primary Reason for Homelessness, Nassau County (n = 35) 57.1% % 14.3% 11.4% 1 Employment / Financial Forced to relocate from home Medical / Disability Problems Housing Issues Source: Survey Chronically Homeless Individuals Over one-third (34.4 percent) of Nassau County homeless individuals were deemed chronically homeless by HUD s definition (n = 61). This is higher than last year s results as well as the overall PIT population. Other Life Experiences Military Service Fifteen percent of the homeless individuals in Nassau County served in the US military (n = 39). This is similar to the overall PIT population. Foster Care Nassau County homeless were less likely to have been in foster care than the overall PIT population. Indeed, 5.9 percent of individuals in Nassau County (n = 34) had been in foster care at some point during their childhood compared to 9.5 percent of the overall group. 56

57 Domestic Violence More than one-fourth (27.8 percent) of the Nassau County United Way and survey participants (n = 36) were a victim or survivor of domestic violence, which is about nine percentage points less than last year. Disabling Conditions Seventy-two percent of the homeless individuals in Nassau County (n = 39) had a disability, which is higher than last year as well as the overall PIT population. As can be seen in Figure V- 12, physical disabilities were most often cited among the participants at 64.1 percent. Thirty-six percent claimed to have a mental health issue and one-third had a substance abuse problem. Similar to last year, no one reported having a developmental disability or HIV/AIDS Figure V-12: Disabling Conditions, Nassau County (n = 39) 64.1% 35.9% 33.3% Physical Mental Substance Abuse Source: United Way and Survey 57

58 Figure V-13: Rate General Health, Nassau County (n = 36) Fair 30.6% Poor 13.9% Very Good 5.6% Good 50. Source: Survey Survey participants were also asked to rate their health. No one in Nassau County felt his or her health was excellent. However, more than half (55.6 percent) thought their health was very good or good (see Figure V-13). Fourteen percent rated their health as poor. Assessment of Needs Client was visibly in pain due to shingles. He was due for surgery this Friday on hernia. Volunteer regarding homeless male in Nassau Interestingly, survey participants in Nassau County identified jobs more often than any other need. In fact, 69.0 percent listed this as a need (see Figure V-14). Housing or shelter was reported by 62.1 percent. Over half (51.7 percent) of the participants reported medical needs. Food (31.0 percent) and transportation (24.1 percent) were other needs identified by the participants. 58

59 Source: Survey 69. Figure V-14: Top 3 Needs, Nassau County (n = 29) 62.1% 51.7% % Job Housing Medical Food Transportation 59