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Washington, DC. July 29. For the first time in the history of contemporary homelessness in the United States, the federal government has released national data reported by local communities showing a second consecutive year of decline in the number of persons experiencing chronic homelessness with an average 15% yearly decline from 2005 to 2007.
 Speaking in Washington on Tuesday and in conjunction with national media attention, including a USA Today article, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Steve Preston reported at the National Alliance to End Homelessness Annual Conference that the chronically homeless population fell from 155,623 in 2006 to 123,833 in 2007. This continues a decrease first reported last year when data revealed a decline from 175,914 in 2005 to 155,623 in 2006. A chronically homeless person is defined as a disabled individual who has been continuously homeless for more than one year or has experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. "We can all be encouraged that we're making progress in reducing chronic street homelessness in America and with more resources and better reporting, we can continue this trend . . . " stated Secretary Preston.
A statement released by the White House Press Office said, "At the beginning of his Administration, President Bush set a goal to end chronic homelessness in America. Today, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Preston reported that the Administration has continued to make progress on this goal.” The statement went on to note that, “ President Bush also appreciates the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness' leadership in convening 20 federal agencies to work together, using increased federal resources to reach the most vulnerable and disabled of our neighbors and end their homelessness. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Peake continues to do an excellent job in leading the Council and specifically strengthening the VA's support for projects that serve and target homeless veterans.” Read the full statement. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/07/20080729-5.html
"The numbers announced today by Secretary Preston that show we are on track to meet the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness are the numbers we've been waiting to see for 30 years - a decrease in homelessness for our most vulnerable and disabled neighbors, living on our streets, languishing in our shelters, those experiencing chronic homelessness," said United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. "The collaboration of many federal agencies - including HUD, VA, HHS, DOL, SSA - along with Governors, Mayors, County Executives, as well as non-profit and faith-based groups, has created a partnership characterized by increased resources, political will, innovation, and results that has supported the President's priority to reduce and end chronic homelessness. Today's numbers document that the partnership is working."
VA Secretary and Council Chair James Peake was a keynote speaker at the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Third National Summit for Jurisdictional Leaders in April which brought together more than 250 state and local jurisdictional leaders, their representatives, “community champions”, and other business and community leaders to focus on sustaining the “visible, measurable, and quantifiable” progress that has been made through 10 Year Plans and the America’s Road Home effort in reducing and preventing chronic homelessness, and broaden awareness of innovative research informed, evidence-based, and field-tested initiatives responsible for achieving results.
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The National Partnership constellated by the Council includes 20 Federal agencies, 53 states and territories whose Governors have taken steps to create State Interagency Councils on Homelessness, and over 340 communities whose Mayors and County Executives have committed to creating and implementing 10 Year Plans. At their recent annual meetings, both the U.S. Conference of Mayors and the National Association of Counties unanimously adopted resolutions reaffirming their partnership and commitment to the goal of ending chronic homelessness. Last November, twenty-two Mayors and County officials representing jurisdictional leadership on homelessness across the nation signed an unprecedented 12-point America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions to end chronic homelessness at a National Summit convened by Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano. The America’s Road Home Statement of Principles and Actions has now been signed by more than 380 Mayors and County Executives.
The chronically homeless data is from HUD’s Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) based on reports from single Point in Time counts from 3,800 cities and counties. This year the AHAR for the first time also reports on the scope of homelessness in America over a full-year period, finding that nearly 1.6 million persons experienced homelessness and found shelter between October 1, 2006, and September 30, 2007. This estimate is based on year-long data collected from more than 284,000 persons located in 98 communities nationwide.
Following the release of the report, key authors conducted a national press briefing to summarize data presented by Dr. Martha Burt of the Urban Institute, Dr. Dennis Culhane of the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Jill Khadduri of Abt Associates. Key federal partners were also present, including Council Director Mangano, VA Homeless Programs Director Pete Dougherty, and HUD Deputy Assistant Secretary for Special Needs Mark Johnston who moderated the panel briefing. Among the findings noted by the researchers using HUD's new year-long sample of Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) data were characteristics of sheltered homeless:
- Geographic: 77% are in central cities and 23% are in suburban and rural areas.
- Household Type: 70% are individuals and 30% are persons in families with children.
- Race: 64% percent are members of minorities.
- Gender: 69% of all sheltered homeless individuals are men.
- Age: 55% of all homeless individuals are 31-to-50 years old.
- Veteran Status: 13% of all sheltered homeless adults are veterans.
Read the Report . . .
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