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

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. 2007 Homeless Needs Assessment • Summarizes total homeless persons served and turned away in Orange County shelters over a twelve month period • Total homeless episodes over a twelve month period: 35,065 • Total homeless episodes for persons in families with children over a twelve month period: 24,545 (10,227 family units) • Total homeless episodes for unaccompanied individuals over a twelve month period: 10,520

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

9. Households by Shelter Type

10. Subpopulation Demographics(Sheltered and Unsheltered)

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

12. Respondent Age

13. Unsheltered Respondents by Age and Gender

14. Sheltered Respondents by Age and Gender

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

16. Usual Sleeping Places

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

18. Reasons for Homelessness

19. Current Monthly Income by Survey Location

20. Sources of Income

21. Reasons for Not Receiving Assistance

22. Services Needed but Not Received