2009 Report of Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties Homeless Population

Transcription

1 2009 Report of Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties Homeless Population 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 Tracy A. Milligan, Assistant Director Jeffry A. Will, Director and Professor of Sociology Tim Cheney, Assistant Director September 2009

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS... ii DEDICATION... iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... v I. OVERVIEW AND METHODS... 9 Defining Homelessness...9 Methods...9 Point-In-Time Count...10 Challenges...10 Survey...11 II. THE 2009 HOMELESS COUNTS...14 Annual Count...14 Point-In-Time Count...14 Totals...14 Sheltered/Unsheltered...16 Demographics...16 Families...17 III. NEEDS, RISKS, AND CONCERNS: SURVEYING THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN DUVAL, CLAY, AND NASSAU COUNTIES...18 Introduction...18 Demographic Characteristics...18 Race and Ethnicity...18 Sex and Age...19 Marital and Family Status...20 Foster Care...21 Education, Employment, Income, and Military Service...22 Education...22 Employment...22 Income...24 Military Service...26 Experiences with Homelessness...26 Time Spent Homeless...26 Transient and Resident Homeless Individuals...27 Reasons for Homelessness...29 Health Issues...30 HIV/AIDS and TB...30 Substance Abuse...33 Physical and Developmental Disabilities...34 Mental Health...34 Disabling Conditions...35 Arrest Record...36 ii

3 Assessment of Needs...37 IV. CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS...40 Alternative Definitions of Chronically Homeless...41 V. JACKSONVILLE BEACHES...42 Annual Count...42 Point-In-Time Count...42 Survey Results...43 Demographic Characteristics...43 Education, Employment, Income, and Military Service...44 Experiences with Homelessness...47 Health Issues...49 Assessment of Needs...49 VI. CLAY COUNTY...52 Annual Count...52 Point-In-Time Count...52 Survey Results...53 Demographic Characteristics...53 Education, Employment, Income, and Military Service...54 Experiences with Homelessness...56 Health Issues...58 Assessment of Needs...59 VII. NASSAU COUNTY...61 Annual Count...61 Point-In-Time Count...61 Survey Results...61 Demographic Characteristics...62 Education, Employment, Income, and Military Service...63 Experiences with Homelessness...65 Health Issues...67 Assessment of Needs...68 VIII. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS...70 IX. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...73 X. APPENDIX...74 iii

4 DEDICATION Herbert Herbie Chestnut January 2, 1947 February 9, 2009 Homeless 1991 until his death iv

5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY For the past 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. Clay County has been included in this endeavor since 2003 and Nassau County has participated with ESHC for the second year now. 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. The other count, the annual count, tallies each homeless individual who receives services within a one-year time frame. This report covers the 2009 PIT count and survey; the 2008 annual count data has not been received as of September The most recent point-in-time count was conducted on January 26, During the same day, the annual homeless survey was also conducted. 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. More than 100 volunteers, primarily University of North Florida (UNF) students, staff, and faculty, ESHC members, and service providers, went to homeless shelters and facilities as well as the streets to survey homeless individuals. A brief overview of the project findings is presented below: Point-In-Time Count Total Total counted: 3,594 adults and children o Duval County: 3,443 Beaches: 391 o Clay County: 53 o Nassau County: 98 This is an increase of 27.4 percent from the previous point-in-time count v

6 Survey Total Total surveyed: 579 o Duval County: 536 Beaches: 55 o Clay County: 21 o Nassau County: 22 Demographic Characteristics As with the point-in-time and annual counts, there was an overrepresentation of Blacks o 47.5 percent of the survey respondents were Black Nearly three-fourths (71.9 percent) of the survey respondents were males Mean age was44 years Education, Employment, Income, and Military Service Seventy-one percent of the survey respondents had a high school diploma/equivalency or higher About one out of five (21.2 percent) of the survey respondents were employed o 6.2 percent full-time o 9.5 percent part-time o 5.5 percent day labor Almost half (46.7 percent) of the survey respondents reported their income from the previous month to be less than one dollar Approximately one-fourth (24.4 percent) of the survey respondents had served in the US military Experiences with Homelessness Approximately 46 percent (45.6 percent) of the survey respondents were homeless for the first time; 26.7 percent of the survey respondents had been homeless four or more times Nearly half (48.8 percent) of the survey respondents had been homeless for one year or longer; another one-fourth (25.4 percent) of the survey respondents had been homeless more than three months, but less than one year Almost three out of four (74.0 percent) of the survey respondents had been in their respective county one year or longer Over 40 percent (42.2 percent) of the survey respondents reported an employment or financial reason for being homeless; 23.0 percent claimed a medical or disability for their homeless status vi

7 Health Issues Of the respondents tested for HIV/AIDS, 3.3 percent tested positive Of the respondents tested for TB, 6.6 percent tested positive More than one out of three (34.7 percent) of respondents had trouble at home or work within the past year because they consumed alcohol or drugs Nearly one-third (32.6 percent) of the individuals had a physical disability; 21.8 percent were afflicted with a developmental disability More than one-third (36.2 percent) of respondents had been prescribed medication or treated for mental health problems o Of those, 67.9 percent had occurred within the past year Almost two-thirds (62.2 percent) of the survey respondents claimed to have a disabling condition Of those o Over half (55.2 percent) reported having a drug or alcohol disability o More than half (51.7 percent) had a physical disability o More than one out of three (34.5 percent) had a developmental disabling condition o Nearly one-third (32.8 percent) reported having a mental health problem o Five percent claimed to have HIV/AIDS Arrest Record Approximately 45 percent (44.8 percent) of the homeless individuals had been arrested at least once since not having a regular place to live Assessment of Needs Top five services identified as needs for homeless individuals in general: o Shelter/Housing 84.4 percent o Food/Meals 54.7 percent o Health care (general, dental, mental, and substance abuse treatment ) 50.0 percent o Job 38.5 percent o Education/Job Training 34.7 percent Two most important services identified as needs for themselves: o Shelter/Housing 62.8 percent o Job 24.8 percent o Health care (general, dental, mental, and substance abuse treatment ) 24.4 percent o Food/Meals 21.2 percent o Education/Job Training 14.1 percent vii

8 Chronically Homeless Individuals According to HUD s definition, percent of the survey respondents were considered to be chronically homeless o Seventy percent had received a high school diploma/equivalency or higher o A great majority (87.8 percent) were not currently employed o Approximately one-fourth (25.6 percent) served in the US military o One chronically homeless individual (1.4 percent of those tested) was HIV/AIDS positive; he was not currently receiving medical care for his condition o More than one out of ten (11.1 percent) of the chronically homeless persons tested for TB were infected; only three respondents were receiving medical care for TB o Approximately 46 percent (46.2 percent) had been prescribed medication or treatment for mental health problems, nearly three-fourths (73.3 percent) of which had occurred within the past year o Over half (58.0 percent) have had trouble at home or work over the past year because of substance abuse issues o About one-third (33.7 percent) claimed to have a developmental disability o Slightly more than half (50.6 percent) reported having a physical disability 1 US Department of Housing and Urban Development. (October 2004). HUD s Homeless Assistance Programs: A Guide to Counting Unsheltered Homeless People. HUD requirements for identifying chronically homeless individuals include those who 1) have a disabling condition, 2) are unaccompanied, 3) are staying in a shelter or on the streets, and 4) have been homeless four or more times in the past three years or currently homeless one year or longer viii

9 I. OVERVIEW AND METHODS Defining Homelessness Methods The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) establishes the federal guidelines for homelessness. 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. 2 For the past two decades, 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. Clay County has been included in this endeavor since 2003 and Nassau County has participated with ESHC for the second year now. 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 each homeless individual who receives services within a one-year time frame. This report covers the 2009 PIT count and survey; the 2008 annual count data has not been received as of September The annual homeless 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). While United Way collects annual and PIT count data from service providers, ESHC and CCI coordinate the survey and the PIT street count. ESHC garners and organizes volunteers for the street count and survey and CCI coordinates the survey at numerous Duval County service providers. CCI staff also conduct multiple trainings every year for all three counties to ensure that volunteers are familiar with the survey instrument, counting procedures, proper etiquette, and safety precautions. Once all of the count and survey data have been collected and the service provider counts have been deduplicated, it is given to CCI. CCI research members are responsible for entering the survey and street count information, then analyzing all of the data and reporting the findings. 2 US Department of Housing and Urban Development 9

10 Point-In-Time Count As mandated by HUD, the PIT count was conducted. Point-in-time count - Data was collected for all homeless clients (including children) served on January 26 th The data was compiled by the HMIS (Homeless Management Information System) Manager for Duval County from three sources. These sources included a street count/survey, the ESHC of Jacksonville HMIS and Excel spreadsheets submitted by various programs. 3 PIT count data comes from two primary sources: service providers and a street count. Because not all service providers utilize HMIS, the HMIS manager at United Way of Northeast Florida combines data collected by HMIS as well as data provided by nonparticipating agencies. Homeless individuals may receive services from multiple providers in one given day, therefore the HMIS manager uses multiple identifiers to locate and eliminate duplicate entries as much as possible. The PIT count also includes homeless people encountered on the streets on January 26 th. Duval and Nassau Counties were divided into zones: Duval County was divided into 13 zones and Nassau County was divided into five zones. Maps of the Duval County and Nassau County street count zones are presented in Figure I-1 and Figure 1-2 respectively. 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 and collected demographic information including sex, race, age (adult or child), and whether the person is part of a family unit during a specific time frame. Street counts are 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 a specific time period rather than all day, which reduces the chances of someone being seen and counted more than once. Third, it is conducted in the evening so that individuals who are staying at a shelter are no longer on the streets and therefore are not counted at an agency and on the street. The only exception to this is Jacksonville Beach (Zone 1). This count is conducted in the early morning and then volunteers assist at the Mission House to ensure that individuals receiving services that day are not counted if they were enumerated earlier in the day. 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 3 Source: HMIS data manager at United Way of Northeast Florida 10

11 sleep with family members or friends. A number of homeless people also find shelter in the woods through makeshift camps, especially given the seasonably warm weather experienced in Northeast Florida. As explained, the majority of the estimates for the PIT count are arrived by the enumerations of service providers in the area; a relatively small proportion comes from street counts. As a result, individuals in the situations described above as well as many others are not seen nor counted during the point-in-time count. Even with the safeguards in place, there is some risk of double counting individuals during the street count. The primary concern for duplicating numbers is focused within Zone 9, downtown Jacksonville, where the service agencies are concentrated. Countered with the fact that there are portions of the population that go uncounted, it is highly 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. The size of the area in which the census takes place is another obstacle in obtaining a more accurate count of the homeless population. 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 County experience challenges as well, particularly in the more rural areas. The annual count provides another angle from which the homeless population in the area can be examined. Rather than a snapshot, it provides a picture across time one year. It too, however, is only an estimate and is believed to undercount the actual numbers of the homeless population. This count is the number of homeless persons served by service providers and thus misses those who do not obtain services from these organizations. It should also be noted that while the magnitude of the extent of homelessness is clear, the specific census counts (both point-in-time and annual) are subject to some variation across years. United Way of Northeast Florida works with service providers to obtain accurate, unduplicated data. While the process continues to improve every year, there are inconsistencies in which agencies report data each year. 4 Despite these challenges, the homeless counts are some of the most accurate data available and are vital to the process of understanding and addressing homelessness. Survey To supplement the count data, the annual homeless survey was also conducted in Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties during the same day of the point-in-time count. While the survey is not a federal requirement, it complements the PIT count as it provides valuable information concerning the plight of the homeless population in Jacksonville and the surrounding areas to the ESHC, service providers, and the community as a whole. More than 100 volunteers, primarily University of North Florida (UNF) students, staff, and faculty, ESHC members, and service providers, went to homeless shelters and transitional housing facilities as well as the 4 In the past, data has been provided by service provider. This year data was broken down only by county. 11

12 streets in order to survey homeless individuals. Volunteers were trained prior to the survey on how to conduct the survey, as well as issues concerning research ethics, courtesy, and safety. Individuals approached on the streets and at service agencies as potential survey participants were asked a series of questions to determine their housing status (see the Appendix for a copy of the survey). Anyone fitting the HUD definition outlined above was asked to complete the survey. In addition, persons residing in permanent housing for homeless were included in the survey, but only if they had been at the facility for less than six months. Individuals who were housed, but would be forced to leave within the next week and not have the means to provide a place to stay for themselves were also asked to complete the survey. 12

13 13

14 Annual Count II. THE 2009 HOMELESS COUNTS The 2008 annual count data has not been received as of September Point-In-Time Count Totals During the 2009 point-in-time count, it was estimated that 3,594 individuals (adults and children) were homeless in Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties on January 26, Unlike the annual count, homeless individuals who are residing in permanent supportive housing are not included in the PIT count. This year s PIT count produced the largest result since at least 1992 and, as seen in Figure II-1, is a 27.4 percent increase from the previous point-in-time count. Supported by current economic conditions and the increased needs in services, the significant increase indicates a genuine rise in the number of homeless individuals. Furthermore, extenuating factors that can contribute to an increase did not appear to be in play this year. For instance, the count is conducted in January because it is generally the coldest time of the year which helps to ensure higher, more accurate numbers at area shelters. The weather on the day of the count was actually rather mild, reaching the mid 50s. As a result, the emergency cold night shelter at the Beach was not opened the night before the count and survey as it had been last year. The Downtown emergency cold night shelter did, however, accept individuals the night of the count and survey as it had the previous year. The point-in-time 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, the ESHC and the Coalition for the Homeless of Nassau County worked diligently to 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. According to the data provided by United Way of Northeast Florida, there were an estimated 3,443 homeless individuals in Duval County (391 of which were from the Beaches), 53 homeless persons counted in Clay County, and 98 were accounted for in Nassau County. 5 In the past, data has been provided by service provider. This year data was broken down only by county. 14

15 Figure II-1 15

16 Sheltered/Unsheltered Those considered unsheltered include individuals known or presumed to be living in a place not meant for habitation as well as those in jail, prison, or detention facility, a psychiatric facility, a substance abuse treatment facility, or a hospital. According to the HMIS manager, there were data issues with agencies recording the services, creating challenges in determining whether clients were sheltered or unsheltered. This data is quite valuable in regards to defining the homeless population and assessing their housing services. The lack of this data serves as an example of the importance of data collection and accuracy. Demographics Race/Ethnicity As with previous years, Blacks are significantly overrepresented in the local homeless population. Over 40 percent (41.5 percent) of the individuals from the point-in-time count in which race was recorded were Black (see Figure II-2). This is much higher than the proportion of Blacks residing in the tri-county s general population which is estimated to be 26.8 percent in The next largest racial group among the homeless persons enumerated was white at 35.1 percent. Approximately one out of five (20.8 percent) of the population counted were a race other than white, Black or Hispanic. This is a much larger proportion than in the past. For instance, last year only 7.8 percent of the PIT count individuals were of other races. The remainder of those counted were of Hispanic descent (2.6 percent). Figure II-2 6 Population data obtained from: Florida Department of Health. Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Data Analysis. 16

17 Sex and Age A majority of homeless individuals counted during the 2009 point-in-time count in the threecounty area were male. The sex of those counted for the PIT count was recorded for 3,541 individuals. Of those, over three-fourths (78.5 percent) were male. Data for age was collected for individuals counted for the point-in-time count in terms of whether the individual was an adult or a child (under the age of 18). A vast majority of those enumerated in the 2009 PIT count were adults. In fact, approximately 95 percent of the individuals were adults compared to 85 percent last year. Families Other data collected for the point-in-time count included whether each person was alone or in a family unit with children. Only about five percent of those enumerated during the PIT count were living with any children at the time. While the percentage of individuals within a family unit has historically been small, it has been approximately 18 percent in most recent years. 17

18 III. NEEDS, RISKS, AND CONCERNS: SURVEYING THE HOMELESS POPULATION IN DUVAL, CLAY, AND NASSAU COUNTIES Introduction As discussed in the methods, a survey was conducted in conjunction with the point-in-time homeless count in order to gain in-depth information about homeless persons in Duval, Clay, and Nassau County and the conditions under which they live (see the Appendix for a copy of the survey). While the PIT and annual counts include children and adults, only adults 18 years and older were surveyed. The survey provides a wealth of information from which programs can be developed, implemented, and improved. A total of 579 valid surveys were collected in the three counties on January 26, Approximately one-third (33.7 percent) of the respondents had slept in a place not meant for habitation the night before and a great majority of the others had stayed an emergency shelter, transitional or permanent housing, or substance abuse facility. The following section is a discussion of the information gleaned from the survey conducted of homeless individuals in these areas as a whole. Separate sections of this report address the responses of survey respondents from the Jacksonville Beaches, Clay County, and Nassau County independently. Additionally, a section of this report focuses on those respondents deemed chronically homeless by HUD. Demographic Characteristics Race and Ethnicity Previous counts and surveys have consistently shown that Blacks represent the majority of homeless individuals and are overrepresented compared to the general population. This year s survey found nearly half (47.5 percent) of the respondents to be Black (see Figure III- 1). Once again, this is compared to only 26.8 percent of the Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties combined estimated 2009 populations. 7 Almost an equal proportion (46.3 percent) of the survey respondents were white. The remaining participants were of Figure III-1 7 Population data obtained from: Florida Department of Health. Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Data Analysis. 18

19 other racial backgrounds including American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander, and multiracial. The racial composition of the survey participants was comparable to last year s results. Like the US Census, a separate question concerning one s Hispanic origin was asked of the survey respondents. Slightly higher than last year, those from a Hispanic descent contributed to 5.0 percent of the homeless survey respondents (n = 519). Hispanic origin was not a separate variable for the counts. Sex and Age As in years past, males made up the majority of the homeless individuals surveyed. In fact, almost three-fourths (71.9 percent) of those surveyed for the annual homeless survey were male, which is somewhat lower than the percentage of adult males estimated in the point-intime count. Respondents ranged in age from 18 to 77. Similar to previous years, a majority of the respondents were between the ages of 36 and 55 with a mean age of 44 years (see Figure III-2). Thirty-six percent of the respondents were 46 to 55 years old and 27.7 percent were 36 to 45. Those 25 and under represented the smallest proportion of the survey sample at 6.9 percent. Male respondents tended to be older than females. The mean age for male participants was 46 years and 40 years for females. The breakdown of ages for both males and females is presented in Figure III-3. While 15.3 percent of males were 35 years old and younger, well over one-third (38.3 percent) fell within this age range. Figure III-2 19

20 Figure III-3 Marital and Family Status The vast majority of homeless survey respondents were not currently married, nor did they identify a significant other. As seen in Figure III-4, approximately 40 percent were either divorced or separated and another 35.8 percent were single and had never been Figure III-4 married. Just over ten percent (12.2 percent) of the respondents claimed to have a spouse or significant other. Of those having a spouse or significant other, 41.4 percent were currently with the person. Approximately 45 percent were not with the person, but would be if they were not in their current housing situation. One participant was not with their significant other and did not know whether he would be if he were housed. Data was missing on the status of the rest of the respondents (seven) significant others. It is important to note that a significant proportion of marital and family member data overall was missing this year. For instance, surveyors would either skip the page entirely, most likely because the respondent did not have anyone with them, or they would indicate there was no spouse, but fail to mark the marital status. This may be due to the new format of the survey, a lack of proper training, or a combination of factors. Regardless, this issue will need to be addressed when preparing for next year s survey to ensure data efficacy. 20

21 As with the census enumerations, the majority of the homeless individuals surveyed were not residing with family members. Nearly 15 percent (14.5 percent) of the homeless individuals had family members staying with them. However, not everyone with a family member actually had a child or children living in their family unit. As Figure III-5 illustrates, only 10.5 percent of those interviewed had one or more children Figure III-5 living with them. While a majority of these respondents were with only one or two children, some had as many as five and six children living with them. Again, a relatively high proportion of the family data was missing. One could make the argument that a vast majority of the respondents with missing data were most likely unaccompanied and including them in the data would result in a lower percentage of participants with children. However, this assumption cannot be made and the results must be gleaned from the data gathered. Foster Care Those who have once been in foster care are known to be vulnerable to homelessness, partly due to a lack of familial and social supports, especially at times of crisis. Consistent with previous years, ten percent of the respondents had experienced foster care sometime in their childhood (Figure III-6). Figure III-6 21

22 Education, Employment, Income, and Military Service Education Education is the foundation from which many of our employment and economic successes are built upon. Without a firm educational background, many struggle only to find themselves in low-skill, low-wage jobs. As seen in Figure III-7, 71.0 percent of those surveyed had a high school diploma/equivalency or higher. This reflects results from previous years. Approximately nine percent had a college degree and another 3.9 percent had obtained a vocational degree or completed a trade school. Figure III-7 While the majority of homeless respondents had at least a high school education, the percentage is relatively lower than the overall County percentage where it is estimated 87.3 percent of those 25 years and older in Duval County in 2007 were at least a high school graduate or equivalent (Clay County 89.0 percent and Nassau County 85.2 percent). 8 Employment Many residents in the area have found themselves without a job due to the current state of the economy. In fact, the unemployment rate for the Jacksonville metropolitan area was 8.7 in Figure III-8 January The overall high unemployment rate among the general population may explain the decrease seen in the percentage of employed homeless respondents. While nearly 30 percent of the 2008 homeless survey respondents were employed in some capacity at the time of the survey, only 21.2 percent of this year s respondents were employed. As seen in Figure III-8, approximately ten percent were employed part-time, 6.2 percent were working full-time, and 5.5 percent were utilizing day labor American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. US Census. FactFinder. 9 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 22

23 A particularly disconcerting trend appears when examining the employment status of the survey respondents over time. Indeed, as seen in Figure III-9, after a sharp rise from 42.0 percent in 2001 to 62.0 percent in 2002, the percentage of respondents unemployed has generally risen steadily to 78.8 percent. Furthermore, while the percentages of participants employed parttime and full-time were similar between 2002 and 2005, the gap between the two figures has widened more recently with the percentage of full-time employees decreasing at a greater rate. I know I can do a job I m trying, but it s hard when you re homeless and can t get clean. Homeless male in Jacksonville My regular job is shrimping, but there s no work available. Homeless male in Nassau County Note that respondents were not asked the type of employment they had in , just simply whether or not they were employed. The part-time percentages in Figure III-9 include day labor work which offers unstable and unpredictable job opportunities, making it difficult for anyone to make a living from such employment. A number of survey respondents were surveyed at labor pools and spoke about the manual labor these jobs entail. Such jobs are not viable employment options for everyone, given the intensive labor required for a majority of the jobs offered by day labor agencies. For instance, many women, elderly, and ill individuals cannot perform the required duties and must look elsewhere for income. For those who are physically capable, labor pool work presents a quandary for many. On one hand, homeless individuals face enormous challenges when searching for stable Figure III-9 employment, such as having a permanent address for the application, and labor pools present some a means to an income. On the other hand, labor pools offer unstable and unpredictable job opportunities, making it difficult for anyone to be self-sufficient from such employment. It should be noted as well that some labor pools have closed over the past year, particularly in the Beaches area, leaving even fewer options for individuals seeking work. 23

24 Income The employment status of many of these respondents has a tremendous effect on their income. In fact, almost half (46.7 percent) of the survey respondents reported their income last month to be less than one dollar (see Figure III-10). This is a continued increase to findings from surveys conducted in previous years. Approximately three-fourths (75.7 percent) of the homeless individuals had incomes of $500 or less the previous month and 92.6 percent earned $1,000 or less. According to HUD, the Fiscal Year 2009 Area Median Income for the Jacksonville HMFA is $5,425 per month. 10 In comparison, only 2.2 percent of the overall homeless survey respondents made more than $2,000 the previous month. According to Out of Reach 2009, the 2009 Fair Market Rent for a onebedroom apartment in Clay, Figure III-10 Duval, or Nassau County is $779 a month. 11 In order for an individual to afford such an apartment (no more than 30 percent of household income), he or she would need to earn a minimum of $2, a month. Interestingly, while about one out of five survey respondents claimed to have a current job, 39.7 percent of those surveyed had earned income within the past month (see Figure III-11). This may be due to income earned from a recently lost job or income that is gained by unconventional means that they define as employment. It is important to keep in mind that the money earned the previous month does not necessarily reflect the current and/or future income of these individuals. Although employment represented the most common source of income, there are a variety of resources residents in general and homeless individuals also use to support themselves. Such resources can include Social Security benefits, public assistance, unemployment benefits, alimony, and child support. While some people may presume that impoverished persons generally receive government handouts, it is difficult for many homeless individuals to benefit from such programs for a variety of reasons. A major obstacle for many is the lack of a stable mailing address. Other impediments include the lack of transportation and contact information to make necessary appointments and the absence of identification documents such as a driver s license or birth certificate. 10 National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out of Reach Ibid 24

25 Outside of employment, the most cited specific source of income among the survey respondents was Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Although SSI was the most common benefit, only 13.8 percent of the participants received this benefit the month prior. Another 7.4 percent obtained Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Only 2.8 percent of respondents with income received Social Security Retirement (SSA) benefits, compared to 4.6 percent last year. While a smaller percentage of respondents received SSA retirement funds this year than last, there were increases in the percentages of those obtaining income from other sources including family and friends (11.0 percent), panhandling, (8.9 percent), general assistance (3.9 percent), unemployment (3.2 percent), and TANF (3.2 percent). Approximately four percent of those with income over the past month received either Veterans Disability and/or Veterans Pension. Some sources of income were utilized by very few respondents. For instance, some homeless individuals received income from child support (1.4 percent), job pension (1.4 percent), worker s comp (0.4 percent), and private insurance (0.4 percent). No one claimed to have received any alimony compensation. Figure III-11 25

26 Military Service Despite the benefits afforded to US veterans, a relatively high percentage of them experience homelessness compared to the general population. Nationwide, veterans account for about one out of three homeless adults. 12 As seen in Figure III-12, approximately one-fourth (24.4 percent) of the homeless survey respondents served active duty in the US military. These results replicate those from recent surveys. Fifteen percent of the survey participants served in combat and 9.4 percent served, but not in combat. A majority (78.9 percent) of those who served received an honorable discharge. The years of discharge ranged from 1954 to Figure III-12 Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless Similar to last year, approximately 46 percent of the survey respondents were currently experiencing their first period of homelessness within the past three years (see Figure III-13). In other words, more than half Figure III-13 (54.4 percent) of the participants had previously experienced homelessness within the past three years. In fact, over onefourth (27.7 percent) of the individuals were in their second or third episode of homelessness and 26.7 percent of those surveyed were homeless for the fourth time or more. These figures are somewhat consistent with past results. 12 US Department of Veterans Affairs. Homeless Veterans. 26

27 As with the number of times spent homeless, the time span also varies among individuals. The survey results illustrate that many of the homeless individuals encountered this year have experienced homelessness for a significant amount of time. In fact, a vast majority (91.2 percent) of respondents had been homeless for one month or longer at the time of the survey, an increase from 86.2 percent last year. Furthermore, nearly half (48.8 percent) of the homeless survey respondents had currently been homeless for at least one full year (see Figure III-14). The Figure III-14 most significant differences between the 2008 and 2009 surveys is the decrease (5.0 percentage points) in the percent of respondents in a homeless state less than one month and the increase (6.1 percentage points) in the percent of participants being homeless at least one year. Transient and Resident Homeless Individuals Despite a common public perception that homeless people are transients, many of the individuals encountered during the annual survey were not just passing through. As found in the past, many of the homeless respondents had actually been in the local area for some time. In fact, a large percentage of survey respondents had lived in Duval, Clay, or Nassau County for at least a year or more. As seen in Figure III- 15, almost three out of four (74.0 percent) of the survey participants had resided in the local area a year or longer. This is compared to 90 to 94 percent of general residents in Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties who were in the same county one year ago. 13 Another 11.7 percent Figure III American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. US Census. FactFinder. 27

28 had been in the area for more than three months, but less than one year. These findings are consistent to last year except for a slight increase in the percent of participants being in the area for at least a year. Like any population, people migrate to particular areas for a variety of reasons. The homeless population is no different and when asked why they first came to Duval, Clay, or Nassau County, they had various motivations drawing them to the area. Again, a majority of the responses indicate that the respondents were not just passing through. As seen in Figure III- 16, one-third of those surveyed indicated that they were either born here or grew up here. This is an increase of 5.1 percentage points from last year. Nearly one-fifth (19.5 percent) of the homeless individuals surveyed came to the area because they had family members or friends in the area. Approximately 18 percent first moved to the area believing good jobs were available. Contrary to the belief of some that services tend to attract homeless individuals to an area, only 4.1 percent of those surveyed first came to Duval, Clay, or Nassau County because they believed Figure III-16 good shelters and services were available. Fifteen percent of the survey respondents had other reasons for coming to the vicinity. Other reasons included new start, job relocation (including military), medical treatment, and a myriad of other explanations. For a second year, respondents who were not born and/or raised in the county in which they were surveyed were asked whether they had received a free bus ticket to travel to the area. This question was not applicable for participants in Nassau County since there is not a Greyhound bus station within the county. More than one out of ten (13.1 percent, n = 291) of Duval and Clay County homeless individuals who were not born and/or raised in the county claimed to have received a bus ticket. The tickets came from a variety of sources. The most often cited source was a family member, friend, or good Samaritan. Other sources included State offices, churches, and social agencies. The respondents obtaining tickets from State offices received them from the Florida cities or counties of Leon County, Lake City, Ocala, and DeFuniak Springs. According to respondents, agencies in Savannah and Atlanta, Georgia, Lakeland, Florida, and 28

29 Charlotte, North Carolina gave homeless individuals free bus tickets. Similarly, churches in Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina allegedly provided complimentary tickets to people. Reasons for Homelessness Many homeless advocates recognize poverty and the lack of affordable housing, resources, and support networks to be the systematic causes of homelessness. Other factors at the individual level, including single life events and situations, may also play a role. Respondents were asked, If you had to pick one reason that you became homeless, what would it be? Survey volunteers were to then categorize the responses into one of five broad categories: employment/financial, housing, medical, family, or other. The surveyors were also provided some space to record any details about the homeless person s reasoning. Most of the responses were quite brief, while a few provided more detailed explanations. Sometimes more than one cause was provided. In these cases, researchers used any available qualitative description to determine the Figure III-17 original issue. If this was not available or possible, the data was entered under other. The data provided in Figure III-17 represents the homeless individuals initial response or the primary incident in a series of events. An employment or financial problem was cited most often by the survey respondents as an important reason for their homelessness. In general, 42.2 percent of the individuals thought they were homeless due to an employment or financial problem. Such problems included simply not Hard to get a job broke trying to wait. Homeless male in Jacksonville having enough income to meet their basic needs, being unemployed, and lacking job training. This was almost a ten percentage point increase from last year s results of 32.7 percent, possibly a reflection of the general economy. A medical condition or disability was cited by almost one-fourth (23.0 percent) of the survey respondents. Medical conditions included alcohol or drug abuse, mental health or I was diagnosed with degenerative disk emotional problems, general physical or medical disease five years ago and had an problems, and the inability to pay for operation 2 years ago. I haven t had any medications. work since then. Homeless male in Jacksonville 29

30 Family related problems were also chosen by respondents as causes of their homelessness, although not as often. Approximately 14 percent of the survey respondents perceived family I tried to leave an abusive situation plus my husband has asked me for a divorce. Homeless female in Nassau County related problems as the source of their homelessness. Family issues included relationship break up, separation, or divorce, escape from abuse, and death of a family member. Slightly more than one out of ten (11.8 percent) respondents identified housing problems as the most important reasons for their homeless status. Eviction, temporary housing arrangements ending, and significant house damage were among the housing related issues. I was evicted from my apartment. My husband left and does not pay child support and I have been underemployed for the past year and a half. Homeless female in Jacksonville Approximately nine percent of the responses did not fall under any of the broad categories. These other responses varied greatly and included multiple reasons such as bad choices, I would be fine if I didn t go to prison. No one wants to hire me because of my criminal record. Homeless male in Jacksonville incarceration, and being homeless by choice. Incarceration and multiple reasons were the most often cited other reasons identified by respondents. Health Issues 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 conditions for people on the street. Access to affordable health care is a major concern for many citizens, especially for homeless persons. A lack of access to preventative health care results in many illnesses undiagnosed and untreated. Compounding the situation, when homeless persons do seek treatment they typically utilize emergency rooms, a costly means of health care. To that end, a series of questions were asked of the survey respondents to better understand some of the health problems they face. HIV/AIDS and TB As found in the past, a relatively high percentage of the survey respondents in the area had been tested for HIV/AIDS. In fact, homeless respondents were almost two times more likely to have been tested for HIV than the general public. Approximately 88 percent of survey 30

31 respondents had been tested for HIV/AIDS compared to 53.3 percent of the general population of adults under the age of 65 in Duval County in 2007 (Clay County percent and Nassau County percent). 14 Additionally, more than three-fourths (77.1 percent) of those who had been tested had done so within the past year. This is based on 398 respondents as many persons data was missing for this question. There are a number of possible explanations for the higher rate of testing among the homeless population. For instance, many shelters offer testing as a health service and one of the service providers specifically targets and serves those who are HIV/AIDS positive. There is also a relatively high arrest rate among homeless persons lending the possibility of testing upon incarceration. Of the respondents tested for HIV, 3.3 percent claimed to have tested positive for the disease (see Figure III-18). This is lower than the previous year s results, which was approximately five percent. Another 2.9 percent of Figure III-18 the homeless survey respondents did not know or refused to divulge their HIV/AIDS status. It is possible that some of these individuals may very well be HIV/AIDS positive and did not receive their test results or did not want to share their status. As with previous years, the high rate of positive results is partly due to the fact that surveys were conducted at St. John s Horizon House, a program that specifically targets HIV/AIDS positive persons. Even taking the relatively high percentage of those tested and other issues into account, this is a tremendously high proportion to be infected with HIV when compared to the general population. For example, it is estimated that there were 5,129 people living with HIV/AIDS as of December 31, 2008 in Duval, Clay, and Nassau Counties. 15 Using 2008 population estimates (1,168,492) 16 for the three-county area, it is calculated that 0.44 percent of the counties combined population is living with HIV/AIDS. In other words the rate of HIV/AIDS among the homeless population surveyed calculates to 3,272 for every 100,000 compared to 439 per 100,000 for the Counties. It is important to keep in mind that the percentage and rate calculated for the overall Counties 14 Florida Department of Health. Florida Charts. Florida Behavioral Risk Factor Data Florida Department of Health. The Florida Division of Disease Control Surveillance Report. January 2009, Number Population data obtained from: Florida Department of Health. Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Data Analysis. 31

32 population is expected to be somewhat lower because it is based on the total population and not just those who have been tested. Those who are homeless with HIV/AIDS face not only the struggles of living with HIV/AIDS, but many are burdened with accessing health care and medication for the disease and their general health. Nevertheless, more than two-thirds (69.2 percent) of the HIV/AIDS positive individuals were receiving medical treatment at the time of the survey. Again, the relatively high percentage of those receiving treatment is partially due to the respondents who were surveyed at St. John s Horizon House. Homeless individuals are also vulnerable to contracting tuberculosis (TB). Fortunately, like HIV/AIDS, a great majority of respondents had been tested for TB. More than nine out of ten (92.5 percent) respondents had been tested for TB (see Figure III-18). Furthermore, 70.2 percent of those who had been tested had done so within the past year. Like the question for HIV/AIDS, many respondents data was missing. This will need to be examined when preparing for the survey next year. Of those tested for TB, 6.6 percent claimed to have tested positive. These results are comparable to past years findings. Additionally, another 4.6 percent of the homeless survey respondents did not know or did not want to share their TB test results, potentially adding to the total number of respondents who were infected with TB. The percentage of survey respondents with TB is extremely high in comparison to the general population. In 2008, there were 102 new cases of TB in Duval County (two in each Clay and Nassau Counties). 17 Using the 2008 population estimates, the new cases equate to percent of the population, much lower than the 6.6 percent found among the homeless survey respondents. These percentages equate to rates of 9 per 100,000 for the three-county area and 6,576 for every 100,000 for the homeless survey respondents. It is important to understand, however, that the general population percentage and rate are based on the entire populations of three-county area; it is not based on only those who have been tested. Additionally, the cases presented are new cases and does not include those who may have tested positive for TB prior to Both of these factors would result in higher statistics for the overall populations. As previously discussed, homeless persons tend to have difficulty accessing health care services. Unlike HIV/AIDS, a much smaller proportion of those with TB actually receive treatment. In fact, less than one-third (30.8 percent) of those who tested positive for TB declared they were being treated. 17 Florida Department of Health Florida TB Incidence Rates. Sheets/Florida/County%20Incidence/TB_Incidence_Rates_2008.pdf 32

33 Some individuals not only suffer from HIV/AIDS or TB, some are infected with both diseases. Three homeless survey respondents indicated they were positive for both TB and HIV/AIDS. Substance Abuse Many of the area programs addressing the needs of the homeless focus on the impact of alcohol and drugs on the lives of homeless persons. Indeed, past surveys have found that relatively high percentages of the homeless population have alcohol and drug problems. It is difficult to ascertain those who truly experience substance abuse problems. Problems such as defining substance abuse and obtaining accurate information concerning one s consumption can obscure the accuracy of the data. While the validity of some of the survey items may be debatable, asking questions allows us to have some kind of understanding of the issues faced by homeless persons in this area. I used drugs and alcohol and had stopped paying my bills regularly and was going to be evicted. Homeless female in Jacksonville Approximately half (49.5 percent) of the survey respondents have felt they needed substance abuse treatment or have known someone who has felt the respondent needed substance abuse treatment (see Figure III-19). It is possible that some of these cases referred to distant past experiences and they were currently clean and sober. Figure III-19 Interestingly enough, slightly more than one-third (34.7 percent) claimed to have had trouble at home or at work within the past year because of their use of alcohol or drugs. This may indicate a proportion of those interviewed have problems that are now behind them or they just may not have a job or home to have trouble with. These results are slightly higher than the previous year. 33

34 Physical and Developmental Disabilities In addition to substance abuse and other health issues, survey respondents were asked whether they have any physical and developmental disabilities. Nearly one out of three (32.6 percent) of the survey respondents claimed to suffer from a physical disability and slightly more than one out of five had developmental issues (see Figure III-20). While a few participants elaborated on their conditions, it is unknown what types of physical and developmental disabilities the homeless individuals face. Figure III-20 I am almost completely blind. Homeless female in Jacksonville Mental Health Mental health is a serious concern for those aiding the homeless population. Research has found that homeless individuals are more likely to experience mental health issues than the general population. Like substance abuse, identifying persons with mental health problems is a complicated task. The difficulties stem from defining mental health problems and obtaining reliable information from respondents due to the personal nature of the subject. Furthermore, like other issues, it is unclear as to whether homelessness is the cause or the effect of mental health problems. While mental illness is clearly a factor for a number of homeless individuals, it may very well be a result of being homeless, not the cause. Indeed, a number of persons interviewed discussed how demoralizing it was being on the streets. Nevertheless, to gain a I was concerned about seeking mental health services because of concerns about DCF becoming involved. Homeless female in Jacksonville better understanding of mental health concerns among the local homeless population, respondents were asked a series of general questions about their mental health history. 34

35 As seen in Figure III-21, more than one-third (37.7 percent) of the survey respondents have felt at some point that they were in need of medication or treatment for mental or emotional problems. Similarly, 36.2 Figure III-21 percent of the overall respondents claimed they had received medication or treatment for such issues in their lifetime. Over two-thirds (67.9 percent) of those who had received medication or treatment had been treated within the past year. All of these results reflect the findings from past surveys. Disabling Conditions HUD identifies many of the issues discussed above as disabling conditions: developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health disabilities, HIV/AIDS, and/or substance abuse problems. Using responses to the individual questions, 62.2 percent of the respondents claimed to have had at least one of these disabilities. This is slightly less than previous years, but still considerably higher than the general population. In fact, only 12 to 15 percent of the populations aged 16 to 64 in Clay, Duval, and Nassau Counties have a disability. 18 As seen in Figure III-22, a problem with drugs and/or alcohol was the most cited disabling condition among this group of respondents with 55.2 Figure III-22 percent reporting such a problem within the past year. This is an increase from previous years and replaced physical maladies as the top disability. About half (51.7 percent) of respondents with a disability experienced one of a physical nature and more than one out of three (34.5 percent) of those with American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates. US Census. FactFinder. 35

36 a disability claimed to have a developmental one. Among the disabled homeless individuals, approximately one-third (32.8 percent) claimed to have a recent mental health issue. The least common type of disabling condition was HIV/AIDS with 5.0 percent of the disabled and tested respondents reporting a positive HIV/AIDS status. Arrest Record Historically, a number of survey respondents have complained about what they perceive to be harassment from police officers. As a result, survey respondents were asked how many times they had Cops harass us all the time. Homeless male in Jacksonville Beaches been arrested in the county in which they were surveyed since not having a regular place to live as well as the charges related to the arrests. Approximately 45 percent of the participants had been arrested at least once (see Figure III-23). This is considerably higher than last year in which 35.8 percent claimed to have been arrested since becoming homeless. Approximately one-third of the current survey respondents had been arrested between one and five times. Less than ten percent (8.7 percent) of the homeless individuals claimed to have been arrested ten times or more. Figure III-23 The arrests were made for a variety of violations and some respondents had been arrested for multiple offenses. It is important to note that because many respondents had been arrested for multiple offenses, the percentages discussed will not equal to 100 percent. The most often cited violations were related to alcohol, which primarily included open container, but also disorderly intoxication (see Table III-1). Over onethird (36.3 percent) of those arrested had been arrested for such offenses. Trespassing was another offense committed by many of those arrested. In fact, more than one out of four (26.4 percent) had been arrested for trespassing since being homeless. Individuals were also charged for crimes known as homeless crimes which include camping or sleeping in public spaces, loitering, and panhandling. Indeed, 9.5 percent of the survey respondents had been charged with camping and 8.0 percent of participants had been arrested for loitering, vagrancy, or panhandling. Respondents were arrested for a variety of other charges including burglary, battery, domestic violence, driving violations, and bad checks. 36

37 Assessment of Needs Table III-1: Reasons for Arrests (n = 201) Alcohol Related 36.3% Trespassing 26.4% Other 18.0% Drug Related 16.9% Burglary/Theft/Robbery 13.0% Battery/Assault/Domestic Violence 10.0% Driving Violation (including DUI) 10.0% Camping/Sleeping 9.5% Loitering/Vagrancy/Panhandling 8.0% Bad Checks/Fraud/Forgery 6.0% Note: Percentages will not calculate to 100% because some respondents were arrested for multiple reasons. Another portion of the survey dealt with services the respondents or any family members staying with them had received within the past year as well as services they and homeless persons needed. Survey respondents were able to select more than one service; therefore the percentages do not total 100 percent. Food (77.1 percent), emergency shelter (63.1 percent), and health care (31.0 percent) remain the top three most often cited services received by the survey respondents or their families (see Figure III-24). While a large percentage of participants had slept at an emergency shelter, other forms of shelter and housing were less often utilized. For example, one-fourth of those surveyed had stayed in transitional housing and approximately one out of ten were provided permanent housing in the past year. In addition to general health care services, 15.4 percent had received mental health care within the year and more than one-fourth (27.1 percent) of the survey respondents had obtained substance abuse treatment. Assuming that all of these respondents were the ones to receive the treatment and not a family member, then just over half (55.7 percent) of the survey participants who had trouble at home or work in the past year because of alcohol or drugs received treatment for their substance abuse problems. More than one-fourth (28.5 percent) of the homeless individuals and/or their family members had utilized a drop-in center over the past year. Other services used less often included ID 37

38 assistance (14.7 percent), education or job training (13.3 percent), financial assistance (12.4 percent), and rental/utility assistance (12.2 percent). To assess the homeless population s needs, respondents were asked two questions: what are the five services that homeless people need the most? and which two of the above services are the most important to you? While not surprising, the most often cited current need among the respondents was shelter and/or housing (84.4 percent) (see Table III-2). Forty-five percent of the homeless survey respondents expressed an immediate need for shelter, some of A place for men and women to stay together. Homeless female in Jacksonville which specifically identified the need for 24 hour shelters. 19 Slightly more than 40 percent (42.6 percent) of the participants claimed a need for some form of housing other than emergency shelter. Food or meals was the next most often cited service listed. In fact, more than half (54.7 percent) of the survey respondents felt that food/meals was a top service Figure III-24 needed by homeless individuals. Health care services were also identified by many of the homeless survey respondents. Indeed, half of the respondents listed some form of health care, including general, dental, mental, and/or substance abuse treatment, as a top five need of the homeless. Approximately 40 percent (39.6 percent) of participants noted general health care. About one out of 10 (9.9 percent) identified substance abuse treatment as a top need. Mental health, dental and eye care needs were less often cited at 6.3, 3.6, and 1.1 percent respectively. Jobs were noted as a top need by more than one-third (38.5 percent) of the individuals, as was job training and/or education (34.7 percent). 19 Detailed percentages will not equal the broader category because respondents may have chosen more than one of the more detailed subcategories. 38

39 Other highly cited needs were clothing (27.9 percent) and transportation (21.6 percent). Services less often identified by the survey respondents included drop-in center services, financial assistance, and counseling or support. Other services included ID assistance, legal assistance, childcare, church/god, and love or respect. While many of the same services were identified by respondents when asked about the services most important to them, the order of prevalence for the services was slightly different. Shelter and housing were still the primary need, with close to two-thirds (62.8 percent) of the respondents listing one or both. The other most important needs among the homeless individuals surveyed were jobs (24.8 percent), health care (24.4 percent), and food/meals (21.2 I need a place to stay after the labor pool is closed. Homeless male in Jacksonville percent). Interestingly, clothing was not among the top identified services. While only five percent of the participants listed church or God, it replaced clothing as one of the top needs. Table III-2: Top 5 Services Homeless Need and 2 Most Important % of % of Top 5 Services 2 Most Important Respondents Respondents Homeless Need Services (n = 556) (n = 537) Shelter/Housing 84.4 Shelter/Housing 62.8 Food/Meals 54.7 Job 24.8 Health Care (including dental, mental health, and substance abuse treatment) 50.0 Health Care (including dental, mental health, and substance abuse treatment) 24.4 Job 38.5 Food/Meals 21.2 Education/Job Training 34.7 Education/Job Training 14.1 Clothing (including blankets) 27.9 Financial Assistance 6.3 Transportation 21.6 Transportation 5.2 Drop-In Center (including showers, telephones, 15.5 Church/God 5.0 storage, restrooms) Financial Assistance 14.7 Counseling/Support 4.7 Counseling/Support 13.1 Drop-In Center 4.3 Note: Respondents were provided the opportunity to identify multiple needs. Therefore, the totals will not equal 100% 39

40 IV. CHRONICALLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS According to HUD s definition, chronically homeless individuals 1) have a disabling condition, 2) are unaccompanied, 3) are staying in a shelter or on the streets, and 4) have been homeless four or more times in the past three years or are currently homeless one year or longer. 20 Using HUD s definition, 14.3 percent of homeless individuals surveyed this year were considered chronically homeless (see Figure IV-1). This percentage has decreased slightly the past couple of years and will need to be watched in the future to see if this is a continuing trend. Blacks were overrepresented among the chronically homeless as they were in the overall group of respondents. More than forty percent (43.9 percent) of the chronically homeless individuals were Black and 47.6 percent were white. The remaining 8.5 percent of the chronically homeless respondents were of other racial backgrounds. While less than ten percent (7.8 percent) of the chronically homeless individuals were Hispanic, this is a dramatic increase from 1.2 percent last year. Figure IV-1 Chronically homeless individuals were more likely to be male and older than the overall homeless survey respondents. In fact, a great majority (84.3 percent) of chronically homeless individuals were male. The mean age of this group of homeless individuals was nearly 47 years. Females tended to be younger than males with a mean age of 41 compared to a mean age of 48 for their male counterpart. Other notes of interest of the chronically homeless include: Seventy percent had received a high school diploma/equivalency or more, similar to the overall group of respondents Almost nine out of ten (87.8 percent) were not currently employed compared to 78.8 percent of the overall survey respondents Over half (51.9 percent) earned less than one dollar the previous month; 46.7 percent of the overall survey respondents earned the same amount 20 US Department of Housing and Urban Development. (October 2004). HUD s Homeless Assistance Programs: A Guide to Counting Unsheltered Homeless People. 40

41 Similar to the overall participants, approximately one-fourth (25.6 percent) served in the US military Approximately 13 percent (12.8 percent) had been a foster care child in comparison to approximately ten percent of the overall respondents One chronically homeless individual (1.4 percent of those tested) was HIV/AIDS positive; he was not currently receiving medical care for his condition More than one out of ten (11.1 percent) of the chronically homeless persons tested for TB were infected; only three respondents were receiving medical care for TB Approximately 46 percent (46.2 percent) had been prescribed medication or treatment for mental health problems, nearly three-fourths (73.3 percent) of which had occurred within the past year Over half (58.0 percent) have had trouble at home or work over the past year because of substance abuse issues About one-third (33.7 percent) claimed to have a developmental disability Slightly more than half (50.6 percent) reported having a physical disability Alternative Definitions of Chronically Homeless In the past, members of the Emergency Services and Homeless Coalition of Jacksonville (ESHC) have expressed that they would define chronically homeless differently than HUD. A less complex definition identified by some members of ESHC would simply include anyone experiencing homelessness on a long-term basis or multiple times (i.e. four or more times in the past three years or currently being homeless for one year or more). This accounts for fiftysix percent of those surveyed. Another definition suggested could include those who 1) have a disabling condition, 2) are staying in a shelter or on the streets, and 3) have been homeless four or more times or currently homeless one year or longer. Thus, whether one was unaccompanied would not be a factor in this circumstance. Using this definition, 18.8 percent of the survey respondents would be considered chronically homeless. 41

42 V. JACKSONVILLE BEACHES This section presents a more in-depth description of the homeless persons 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. First, the Beaches area does not have a regular overnight shelter for homeless persons. 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. This is reflected in the places the different homeless populations sleep at night. Indeed, a great majority (80.9 percent) of the Beaches survey participants slept somewhere not meant for habitation compared to approximately one-third (33.7 percent) of the overall individuals surveyed. The second feature unique to the Beaches area is that it is 18 miles from Downtown, which inhibits many homeless at the Beach from taking advantage of medical and other services offered by providers in the Downtown area. It should be noted however, that the Beach communities have recently experienced an increase in services for the homeless including a new free health clinic and an outreach program. Like the prior sections of this report, the following information was gathered through two primary sources: the point-in-time count and the annual survey (see discussion of methodology in the Overview and Methods section). The survey was administered at various street and wooded locations throughout the Beaches area as well as at the Mission House in Jacksonville Beach a service provider that offers services including meals, a laundry exchange, shower facilities, and medical care to those in need. Annual Count The 2008 annual count data has not been received as of September Point-In-Time Count According to data provided by United Way, on January 26, 2009 (the day of the survey project), a total of 391 persons were counted in the Beaches area, 55 of which were counted on the streets. This is an increase of 208 percent from last year s count. Demographics of those counted include: A large majority (81.8 percent) were male Over two-thirds (68.8 percent) were white, 24.7 percent were Black, five percent (4.9 percent) Hispanic, and 1.6 percent were of other racial backgrounds 42

43 One percent (four individuals) was part of a family unit; two children (both males) were observed in the point-in-time count Survey Results As stated above, as part of the larger community-wide effort on January 26, 2009, a survey was conducted at various street and wooded locations in Jacksonville, Neptune, and Atlantic Beach to better understand the issues facing homeless persons in the Beaches area. Surveys were also collected at the Mission House in Jacksonville Beach. A total of 50 surveys were completed in the Beaches area, 18 of which were on the streets. Demographic Characteristics Race and Ethnicity Unlike the homeless population of Jacksonville, homeless individuals at the Beaches are more likely to be white. Of the homeless survey respondents in the Beaches area, 68.0 percent were white, 28.0 percent were Black and 4.0 percent were of other racial and ethnic backgrounds (see Figure V-1). A separate question found 8.3 percent were Hispanic (n = 48). Figure V-1 Sex and Age Similar to the point-in-time and annual counts, there were significantly more male survey respondents than female in the Beaches area. In fact, nine out of ten of the participants were males. Figure V-2 The ages of the homeless survey respondents in the Beaches area ranged from 19 to 77, and the mean age was approximately 48. A great majority of the survey respondents were 36 years and older (see Figure V-2). The mean age and distribution indicate the Beaches participants were 43

44 relatively older than the overall population. For example, whereas only 15 percent of the overall respondents were 56 and older, 30 percent of the individuals at the Beaches were in the same age range. Marital and Family Status A vast majority of the respondents from the Beaches were alone; only three claimed to be with a spouse or significant other and no one had a child with them. Approximately 44 percent of the respondents were divorced (32.6 Figure V-3 percent) or separated (10.9 percent) (see Figure V-3). More than one-third (34.8 percent) of the respondents had never been married. Slightly more than one out of ten (10.9 percent) of homeless respondents were married or had a significant other. No one claimed to have been separated from their spouse/significant other due to their situation. On the other hand, although none of the respondents reported having children under the age of 18 staying with them, 13.3 percent claimed to have at least one child that would normally be with them, but was not due to their housing situation. Education, Employment, Income, and Military Service Education As seen in Figure V-4, 78.0 percent of survey respondents at the Beaches had at least a high school education. This is an Figure V-4 increase of approximately 20 percentage points from last year. One out of ten participants had a college degree (four percent were graduate degrees) and another four percent had obtained a vocational or trade school degree. 44

45 Employment A great majority (82.0 percent) of the beaches homeless respondents were not working at all at the time of the survey. This is slightly higher Figure V-5 than the entire survey population. Those employed were either working on a part-time basis or through day labor; no one was working full-time (see Figure V-5). Got laid off 4 or 5 months ago from a car dealership. Homeless male in Jacksonville Beaches Income and Public Assistance Although no one was employed full-time, the Beaches participants had a smaller percentage of those earning less than $1 in the past month than the overall survey respondents. While close to half of the entire survey participants earned less than $1, slightly over one-third (34.0 percent) of the Beaches homeless individuals earned an equal amount. The majority (66.0 percent) of Beaches respondents earned no more than $250 in the past month (see Figure V-6). Nearly one out of four (24.0 percent) made between $501 and $1,000 and only one individual made over $1,000. Figure V-6 While the sources of income varied among the respondents, the top seven primary sources of income were the same as the top sources for the overall group of respondents. Nearly one out of three (32.3 percent) had income from employment, which is much lower than last year s 59.4 percent (see Figure V-7). Other often cited sources of income included other income, SSI, family/friends, panhandling, and SSDI. Homeless individuals at the Beaches were less likely 45

46 to rely upon general assistance, Veteran s disability, job pension, and private insurance. Unlike the general survey respondents, none of the Beaches participants received TANF unemployment, or Veteran s pension. Figure V-7 Veteran Status More than one out of three (38.8 percent) homeless Beaches respondents had served in the US military, mostly not in combat (see Figure V-8). This is compared to 24.4 percent of the overall survey participants. The majority (72.2 percent) of those who served had honorable discharges and discharge years ranged from 1954 to Figure V-8 46

47 Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless As seen in Figure V-9, the number of times the Beach survey respondents were experiencing homelessness was split in half between those in their first homeless episode in three years and those experiencing homelessness multiple times. Approximately Figure V-9 one out of five (19.1 percent) participants was homeless four or more times. These percentages are somewhat different than last year with a larger percentage without a home for the first time and a smaller percentage experiencing it for at least the fourth time. More than three out of four (77.5 percent) of the Beach respondents had been without a regular place to stay for more than three months (see Figure V-10). Furthermore, over half (55.1 percent) had not had a regular place to stay in a year or longer. Although these figures are similar to the overall group of respondents, they are greater than last year s results for the Beaches area. Only 10.2 percent of the respondents had been homeless less than one month. Figure V-10 47

48 Transient and Resident Homeless Individuals Individuals at the Beaches were typically in the area a little longer than those surveyed last year. This year, more than threefourths (77.6 percent) of Figure V-11 respondents in the Beaches had been in the area at least one year (see Figure V-11) compared to 75.0 percent last year. Additionally, less than one out of ten (8.1 percent) of the Beach participants had been in the area for three months or less, which is less than half the percentage found the previous year. Only two of these respondents had been in the area less than one week. Chronically Homeless Individuals Of the homeless respondents interviewed in the Beaches area, 26.0 percent were considered chronically homeless as defined by HUD (see Figure V-12). 21 This is similar to last year, but higher than the percent of overall homeless respondents who were determined to be chronically homeless (14.3 percent). Figure V-12 Additionally, almost two-thirds (62.0 percent) of the survey respondents at the Beaches had been homeless for one year or longer and/or had been homeless four or more times in the past three years. 21 US Department of Housing and Urban Development. (October 2004). HUD s Homeless Assistance Programs: A Guide to Counting Unsheltered Homeless People. Chronically homeless individuals 1) have a disabling condition, 2) are unaccompanied, 3) staying in a shelter or on the streets, and 4) have been homeless four or more times in the past three years or currently homeless one year or longer. 48

49 Health Issues Sixty percent of Beaches respondents claimed to have at least one disability. Of those who were identified as disabled, 73.3 percent had a physical disability, 23.3 percent had taken medication within the past year for mental illness, 40.0 percent Figure V-13 had a developmental disability, and 26.7 percent admitted to having trouble at home or work within the last year because of drug or alcohol use (see Figure V-13). No one from the Beaches reported being disabled due to HIV/AIDS. Assessment of Needs Like the overall survey sample, the most often cited services received within the past year were food/meals. Indeed, nearly all (93.9 percent) of the survey participants or family member at the Beach had gotten food or a meal over the past year (see Figure V-14). Almost two-thirds (65.3 percent) of the respondents had utilized a drop-in center. This is not surprising given that Mission House is a primary service provider for the homeless at Jacksonville Beach and was a place in which surveys were conducted. General health care was another often obtained service at the Beaches with approximately onefourth (24.5 percent) of the Beach respondents receiving some form of health care. Other health services were provided to respondents and/or their family members as well. For instance, 10.2 percent obtained mental health treatment and 8.2 percent received alcohol/drug treatment. Similar again to the overall respondents, the least cited services received by the homeless individuals at the Beaches was education/job training, permanent housing, and legal aid. Only 4.1 percent of the respondents reported having received each of the services. Transitional housing (8.2 percent) was another service less often received by the Beaches respondents or their family members. 49

50 Figure V-14 Not surprising, shelter or housing was by far the most often cited service thought to be needed by homeless individuals at 85.7 percent (see Table V-1). Food or meals (44.9 percent) and education/job training (40.8 percent) were also commonly thought to be needed services. Over one-third (34.7 percent) of the participants listed some form of health care. Other top named services included jobs, drop-in center, clothing, and transportation. When asked to select the two most important services to them, shelter/housing (59.6 percent), job (25.5 percent), and health care (21.3 percent) were selected most often by Beach respondents. 50

51 Table V-1: Top 5 Services Homeless Need and 2 Most Important % of % of Top 5 Services 2 Most Important Respondents Respondents Homeless Need Services (n = 49) (n = 47) Shelter/Housing 85.7 Shelter/Housing 59.6 Food/Meals 44.9 Job 25.5 Education/Job Training 40.8 Health Care (including dental, mental health, and substance abuse treatment) 21.3 Health Care (including dental, mental health, and substance abuse treatment) 34.7 Food/Meals 19.1 Job 28.6 Education/Job Training 17.0 Drop-In Center (including showers, telephones, storage, restrooms) 22.4 Drop-In Center 8.5 Clothing (including blankets) 18.4 Clothing 6.4 Transportation 18.4 Transportation 4.3 Counseling/Support 10.2 Church/God 2.1 Financial Assistance 10.2 Financial Assistance 2.1 Note: Respondents were provided the opportunity to identify multiple needs. Therefore, the totals will not equal 100% 51

52 VI. 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. This part of the report presents the results from the point-in-time count and survey conducted in the county (see discussion of methodology in the Overview and Methods section). Annual Count The 2008 annual count data has not been received as of September Point-In-Time Count According to data provided by Clay County, there were 53 homeless persons counted on January 26, 2009, the day of the survey project. This includes individuals at Quigley House and encountered on the street. This year s numbers are 26.4 percent less than the previous Clay County point-in-time count. Demographics of those counted in the point-in-time count include: Males represented the larger proportion of those counted at 73.6 percent Unlike the overall count for this report, only 17.0 percent were Black, 81.1 percent were white, 1.9 percent were Hispanic. There was no one from other racial backgrounds counted Almost one-fourth (22.6 percent) of the homeless enumerated in the Clay County point-in-time count were in a family unit with children; 15.1 percent of the homeless individuals counted were children under the age of 18 52

53 Survey Results Clay County was included in the homeless survey on January 26, Volunteers collected 21 valid surveys from homeless individuals at various locations in the county. Demographic Characteristics Race and Ethnicity As can be seen in Figure VI-1, more than three out of four (76.2 percent) of the homeless persons interviewed in Clay County were white. The other respondents were Black (14.3 percent) and multiracial (9.5 percent). A separate question revealed that none of the homeless respondents were of Hispanic or Latino descent. Figure V1-1 Sex and Age Over two-thirds (68.4 percent) of the Clay County respondents were men. The youngest person interviewed in Clay County was 22, the oldest 59, and the average age was 43. Over half (61.9 percent) of the participants fell between the ages of 36 and 55 (see Figure VI-2). Figure VI-2 53

54 Marital and Family Status None of the Clay County respondents indicated they were currently married or had a significant other. Furthermore, no one claimed to have a spouse or significant other Figure VI-3 that would normally be living them, but was not because of their housing situation. More than one out of three (36.8 percent) of the individuals surveyed had never been married (see Figure VI-3). Over half were either divorced (42.1 percent) or separated (15.8 percent). Three survey participants had at least one child under the age of 18 with them at the time of the survey and one person relayed that she had at least two children that would be with her if it were not for her lack of housing. Education, Employment, Income, and Military Service Education Similar to the overall survey respondents, approximately 71 percent of the Clay County participants had at least a high school diploma or equivalent (see Figure VI-4). Nearly one out of four (23.5 percent) had taken some college courses and two individuals had obtained an undergraduate college degree. No one had completed vocational or trade school. Employment Figure VI-4 As seen in Figure VI-5, a vast majority (90.5 percent) of the Clay County respondents indicated they were currently unemployed compared to 78.8 percent of the overall respondents. Indeed, only two people in Clay County were employed; one full-time and one part-time. No one was working for day labor. 54

55 Figure VI-5 Income The income distribution for Clay County respondents was somewhat similar to last year and the general survey respondents. Approximately 88 percent of the homeless respondents in Clay County earned $250 during the past month with almost half (47.1 percent) earning less than one dollar (see Figure VI-6). No one claimed to have made more than $1,000. Figure VI-6 Sources of income included earned income, family or friends, SSI, SSDI, worker s comp, and panhandling. Many other types of income and public assistance such as SSA, TANF, unemployment, veteran s benefits, child support, and general assistance were not received by the Clay County respondents. Military Service Fifteen percent of the Clay County survey respondents served in the US military; one person served in combat (see Figure VI-7). Two individuals received honorable discharges and one was discharged for medical reasons. 55

56 Figure VI-7 Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless Two-thirds of the respondents in Clay County had experienced homelessness more than once within the past three years (see Figure VI-8). This is lower than the percentage of Clay County participants last year, but higher when compared to the respondents overall. More than one-fourth (27.8 percent) of those surveyed in Clay County had been homeless four or more times. Figure VI-8 As can be seen in Figure VI-9, 70.0 percent of Clay County respondents had been without a regular place to stay for more than three months at the time of the survey. Those surveyed in Clay County this year had typically been homeless for a shorter period of time than last year as well as in comparison to all of those surveyed this year. 56

57 Figure VI-9 Transient and Resident Homeless Individuals Close to two-thirds (61.9 percent) of the homeless persons interviewed in Clay County had been in the county for at least one year (see Figure VI-10). This figure is somewhat lower than last year s results and that of the overall survey respondents for this year. Another 19.0 percent had been in Clay County for more than three months, but less than one year. Only one individual claimed to have come to the area within the past month. ` Figure VI-10 57

58 Chronically Homeless Individuals Of the homeless persons interviewed in Clay County, 19.0 percent were considered chronically homeless by HUD s definition (see Figure VI-11). 22 This is higher than the percent of chronically homeless identified last year (11.1 percent) as well as in this year s overall survey sample (14.3 percent). Figure VI-11 Health Issues Slightly more than half (52.4 percent) of the Clay County respondents claimed to have at least one disabling condition (see Figure VI-12). Physical disabilities were the most common type of disability among the disabled participants. Indeed, 70.0 percent of those with a disability had one of a physical nature. Half claimed to have had a drug or Figure VI-12 alcohol problem within the past year. Almost two-thirds (63.6 percent) felt they had a developmental disability and one-fourth had received mental health treatment within the past year. No one from Clay County reported being HIV positive. 22 US Department of Housing and Urban Development. (October 2004). HUD s Homeless Assistance Programs: A Guide to Counting Unsheltered Homeless People. Chronically homeless individuals 1) have a disabling condition, 2) are unaccompanied, 3) are staying in a shelter or on the streets, and 4) have been homeless four or more times in the past three years or currently homeless one year or longer. 58

59 Assessment of Needs As seen in Figure VI-13, the most often cited service received by Clay County respondents or their families was food/meals (75.0 percent). Thirty percent of the participants were provided emergency shelter and/or health care. Some less often obtained services included mental health care, alcohol/drug treatment, permanent housing, ID assistance, and drop-in center services. No one claimed to have received transitional housing, rental/utility assistance, education/job training, or legal aid. Figure VI-13 When asked about services needed among the homeless and those most important to themselves, shelter/housing and food were identified most frequently (see Table VI-1). Jobs, health care, and transportation were also needed among the Clay County respondents. 59

60 Table VI-1: Top 5 Services Homeless Need and 2 Most Important % of % of Top 5 Services 2 Most Important Respondents Respondents Homeless Need Services (n = 20) (n = 20) Shelter/Housing 90.0 Shelter/Housing 75.0 Food/Meals 75.0 Food/Meals 45.0 Clothing (including blankets) 75.0 Job 30.0 Job 55.0 Health Care (including dental, mental health, and substance abuse treatment) 15.0 Drop-In Center (including showers, telephones, storage, restrooms) 45.0 Transportation 15.0 Transportation 35.0 Clothing (including blankets) 5.0 Health Care (including dental, mental health, and 35.0 Counseling/Support 5.0 substance abuse treatment) Financial Assistance 15.0 Education/Job Training 5.0 Counseling/Support 10.0 Education/Job Training 10.0 Note: Respondents were provided the opportunity to identify multiple needs. Therefore, the totals will not equal 100% 60

61 VII. 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). Annual Count The 2008 annual count data has not been received as of September Point-In-Time Count According to data provided by Nassau County, there were 98 homeless persons counted on January 26, There were a number of service agencies that reported and teams of volunteers canvassed the streets to count homeless individuals as well. The demographics of those counted in the point-in-time count are as follows: Males represented the largest proportion of those counted at 58.5 percent Similar to the Beaches and Clay County, Blacks were not the majority percent were Black, 75.8 percent were white, 1.5 percent were Hispanic, and 1.5 percent were from other racial backgrounds 41.8 percent of those counted in the Nassau County point-in-time count were in a family unit with children; 40.2 percent of the homeless individuals counted were children under the age of 18 Survey Results Volunteers canvassed Nassau County and surveyed individuals on the streets as well as a few service providers on January 26, Twenty-two valid surveys were collected from homeless individuals in Nassau County 11 at Little House Ministries, two at Hope House, one at Micah s Place, and eight on the street in Street Zones 1 and 4. 61

62 Demographic Characteristics Race and Ethnicity As with the Beaches and Clay County, a majority of Nassau County survey respondents were white. Approximately 60 percent were white, while 18.2 were Black, and 22.7 percent were of other racial backgrounds, primarily multiple racial groups (see Figure VII-1). A separate question revealed that 4.8 percent of the homeless participants were of Hispanic or Latino descent. Figure VII-1 Sex and Age The majority (72.7 percent) of respondents in Nassau County were male. The ages of the individuals ranged from 31 to 64 with an average age of 48. Interestingly, over one-third (36.4 percent) were 56 and older compared to only nine percent last year. Nearly another third of the participants were between 36 and 45 years of age (see Figure VII-2). Figure VII-2 62

63 Marital and Family Status Like the other groups of homeless survey respondents examined for this report, a vast majority of those in Nassau County were not currently married or had a significant other. In fact, only one (5.3 percent) of those surveyed fell into such a marital status (see Figure VII-3). He Figure VII-3 was not with his spouse, but claimed she would be with him if it were not for his housing situation. Approximately one out of five (21.1 percent) of the respondents were never married, and nearly three out of four (73.7 percent) were either separated or divorced. Four (21.1 percent) of the survey participants had at least one child with them at the time of the survey. Three (15.8 percent) respondents had a child that would normally be with them, but was not due to their housing status. Education, Employment, Income, and Military Service Education More than three out of four (77.3 percent) of the Nassau County survey respondents had obtained at least a high school diploma or equivalent (see Figure VII-4) compared to 71.0 percent of the overall survey sample. Approximately 14 percent had obtained a college degree and 9.1 percent had completed vocational or trade school. Figure VII-4 63

64 Employment Somewhat similar to the overall survey sample, approximately 71 percent of the Nassau County respondents indicated they were unemployed at the time of the survey (see Figure VII-5). Almost one out of five (19.0 percent) of the individuals worked part-time and 9.5 percent Figure VII-5 worked full-time. No one in Nassau County utilized day labor as a source of employment. Income Reflecting last year s results, over half (57.1 percent) of the homeless respondents in Nassau County earned $250 or less the month prior to the survey with 38.1 percent earning less than one dollar (see Figure VII-6). While more than one-third (38.1 percent) of the participants claimed to have made between $501 and $2,000, no one earned more than $2,000. Earned income, SSI, and SSDI were the most often cited sources of income among the Nassau County respondents who earned money in the past month. Each of these sources of income were each identified by three respondents (23.1 percent). Other sources of income included Figure VII-6 SSA, child support, veteran s pension, family/friends, TANF, and other sources. Some types of income and public assistance such as general assistance, alimony, job pension, veteran s disability, worker s comp, unemployment, private insurance and panhandling were not received by any Nassau County respondents. 64

65 Military Service Like the overall group of survey respondents, approximately one out of four (27.3 percent) of the survey respondents had served in the US military (see Figure VII-7). Nearly one out of ten (9.1 percent) had served in combat. Figure VII-7 Experiences with Homelessness Time Spent Homeless Just over half (54.5 percent) of the Nassau County respondents had previously been homeless in the past three years (see Figure VII-8). This is compared to two-thirds last year. Almost one out of five participants (18.2 percent) were experiencing homelessness for at least the fourth time. Figure VII-8 As can be seen in Figure VII-9, homeless individuals in Nassau County had been without a regular place to stay for various lengths of time; however, a great majority had been homeless for at least three months at the time of the survey. Indeed, nearly two-thirds (63.6 percent) had been homeless three months to less than one year and close to one-fourth (22.7 percent) were without a home for at least a year. In comparison, 40.0 percent of the respondents last year had been homeless for less than one month. 65

66 Figure VII-9 Transient and Resident Homeless Individuals While a smaller percentage compared to the overall survey sample and to last year s results, a majority of Nassau County survey participants have been Figure VII-10 in the County for at least one year. In fact, two-thirds of the respondents claimed to have been in the area for the past year or more (see Figure VII-10). Furthermore, almost one out of four (23.8 percent) had been living in Nassau County for three months, but less than one year. Less than ten percent of the individuals interviewed had been in the area for less than one month. Chronically Homeless Individuals Only one Nassau County survey respondent was considered chronically homeless by HUD s definition (see Figure VII-11). 23 This is similar to last year when only two individuals ( US Department of Housing and Urban Development. (October 2004). HUD s Homeless Assistance Programs: A Guide to Counting Unsheltered Homeless People. Chronically homeless individuals 1) have a disabling condition, 2) are unaccompanied, 3) are staying in a shelter or on the streets, and 4) have been homeless four or more times in the past three years or currently homeless one year or longer. 66

67 percent) were deemed chronically homeless. It is lower than the percent of chronically homeless identified in the overall survey sample (14.3 percent). Figure VII-11 Health Issues Just over half (54.5 percent) of the Nassau County respondents claimed to have at least one disabling condition. This is less than the general survey respondents; however, as with the overall group, physical disabilities were the most common type of disability among the Nassau County disabled respondents (see Figure VII-12). Indeed, half of the disabled individuals had a physical ailment. Figure VII-12 Approximately 42 percent were afflicted with a developmental disability and one-third of the participants had problems at home or work within the past year because of substance use. Finally, mental health issues were the least common form of disability with 22.2 percent reporting such problems within the year. No one claimed to have had tested positive HIV/AIDS. 67

68 Assessment of Needs In order to assess the needs of Nassau County homeless individuals, they were asked what services they or their family members had received within the past year and what services were most important. Like the overall Figure VII-13 survey sample and last year s results, the most often cited services received by Nassau County respondents or their families was food (76.2 percent), emergency shelter (66.7 percent), and health care (38.1 percent) (see Figure VII-13). One-third of the participants had obtained transitional housing within the past year. Services less often utilized included alcohol/drug treatment, legal aid, rental/utility assistance, and other financial assistance. No one in Nassau County reported receiving permanent housing or education/job training. When asked to list the top five services needed by homeless people, shelter and/or housing were among the most often identified services (80.9 percent), just as they were for the overall survey group (see Table VII-1). Transportation was the next most frequently listed need by Nassau County respondents with more than half (57.1 percent) citing it compared to 21.6 percent of the overall group. Roughly half of the individuals also selected food/meals (52.4 percent) and jobs (47.6 percent) as important needs. Other top five services identified by the homeless respondents included health care, education/job training, and financial assistance. Similarly, shelter and/or housing, and transportation were among the most often cited services when respondents were asked to identify the two most important services to them. Other vital services needed were food, jobs, and health care. 68