MERCED COUNTY 2012 Homeless Count and Survey

Transcription

1 MERCED COUNTY Name of Counter: Date: City or Unincorporated Area: Describe Location: County of Merced 2011 Homeless Count Unsheltered Count Instrument Total Number of Homeless Persons at this Location: Of the total # of persons, record # of single individuals (not family members) in table: # of Individual Men # of Individual Women # of Persons unable to Determine Gender # of Single Unaccompanied Youth Under Age 18 Of the total # of persons, record # of family members (not single individuals) in table: # of # of # of Adults # of Family Adult Adult unable to Accompanied Units: Men Women Determine Children Gender Family 1 Family 2 Family 3 Family 4 Family 5 Family 6 When the exact number of person(s) is unknown for some reason, please record the number of estimated persons in the appropriate row: Place or Location Estimated # of Persons Persons in abandoned buildings Persons in outdoor remote encampments Persons walking, sitting, etc in remote area Persons in a vehicle Persons in a crowd or crowded area Other: Additional Notes or Comments (continue on back side if necessary): 2012 Merced County Homeless Subpopulation Survey Today s Date: Interviewer: Name of Program or Street Location: Please record the following information about the person you are about to survey: Gender: Female Male Ethnicity: American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian/Pacific Islander Black or African-American Hispanic or Latino White Other Age: Under age 18* *if under age 18 ask: Are you a runaway youth? yes no don t know refused Household Status: Is the person a single individual or adult member of a family (check one) Begin asking the following questions: 1) Have you been homeless for the past 12 months? yes no 2) Have you been homeless for one year or more? yes no 3) How many times have you been homeless in the past three years? less than four episodes or at least four episodes (check one) 4) Do you have a physical disability? yes no don t know refused 5) Do you have a developmental disability? yes no don t know refused 6) Do you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis? yes no don t know refused 7) Have you been diagnosed with AIDS or have you tested positive for HIV? yes no don t know refused 8) Do you feel you have a mental health condition? yes no don t know refused 9) Do you expect your mental health condition to be of long continued and indefinite duration and to substantially impair your ability to live independently yes no don t know refused 10) Do you have a drug or alcohol problem? yes no don t know refused 11) Do you expect your drug or alcohol problem to be of long continued and indefinite duration and to substantially impair your ability to live independently yes no don t know refused 12) Are you a veteran of the United States Armed Forces? yes no don t know refused 13) Have you ever been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence? yes no don t know refused 2010 Institute for Urban Initiatives 14) During the last 12 months, were you released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a court-order sentence? yes no don t know refused 15) If yes, did the correctional institution provide you with information before your release about the following: Shelter/housing opportunities social services transportation other: June 2012

2 Acknowledgements The 2012 Merced County Homeless Count and Survey was a success due to the efforts of the following volunteers: Ann Ahmadi, Arturo Barajas, Kevin D. Baugh, Sherry Boyer, Becky Brown, Allen Bucker, Norma Cardona, John Carlisle, Jesus Carrillo, Beverly Cesario, Renee Davenport, Sharon Davis, Lynn Downam-Hanzal, Alejandra Gaona, Carla Gibbons, Natasha Gibbons, Stephen Hammond, Joel Harmon, Norma Hirle, Candace Jones, Jeff June, Sandra Leon-Alfaro, Esther Lovato, Clifford Marci, Edward Medina, Roberta Medina, Cynthia Mesa, Bruce Metcalf, Jennifer Mockus, Jesse Molina, Renee Mounce, Denise Murphy, John P. Murray, Lori Newman, Greg Olzack, Dorothy Prichard, Rex Prichard, Gabrielle Pusatero, Saundra Reeves, Lisa Reyes, Suzie Rowe, Gary T. Rucker, Rick Ruiz, Phillip Schmauss, Kathi Shannon, Audrey Slocum, Terry Tatum, Gina Tiscareno, Mauricio Torres, Monica K. Villa, Lana Wright, Delores Zavala; and the following Organizations: Catholic Charities of Merced, City of Merced, County of Merced Human Services Agency, County of Merced Mental Health, Merced County Community Action Agency, Salvation Army, Merced County Rescue Mission, Bethel Community Church, Institute for Urban Initiatives, This Ain t Your Momma s Church, Community Social Model Advocates, and Valley Crisis Center. Appreciation is also extended to Community Social Model Advocates for packaging the incentives which were provided to homeless individuals that participated in the survey. For more information about this report please contact the 2011 Street Count and Survey Coordinator Alicia Ochoa-Jones Merced County Association of Governments Tel x328 Alicia.Ochoa-Jones@mcagov.org The report was prepared by the Institute for Urban Initiatives Joe Colletti, PhD, Executive Director Sofia Herrera, PhD, Associate Director NOTE: Any volunteer or agency that was mistakenly omitted will be included in the final report. Please contact Alicia Ochoa-Jones with information. A copy of this report can be obtained at or i

3 Table of Contents I. Executive Summary... 1 II. Background Information Concerning the Homeless Count... 3 III. Background Information Concerning the Homeless Survey... 5 IV. Findings Concerning the Homeless Survey Chronically Homeless Persons Men Persons with Chronic Health Conditions Persons with Developmental Disabilities Persons with Physical Disabilities Persons with HIV/AIDS Persons with Mental Illness Substance Abusers Unaccompanied Youth Under Age Veterans Women Victims of Domestic Violence Youth Ages Persons Released from Correctional Institutions V. Next Steps Appendix A ii

4 I. Executive Summary One of the main purposes of the final report is to answer the following primary question How Many Homeless People Are There In The County of Merced On Any Given Day? The answer is 502 adults and children of whom 489 persons were adults and 13 were children. Of these persons, 338 or 67% were counted on the streets and or were unsheltered, and 164 persons or 33% were counted in shelters and transitional housing programs, including the 11 children. Another main purpose for this final report is to provide a breakdown of the homeless population as required by the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the annual Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program application. HUD requires information about the following homeless subpopulations: Chronically Homeless Persons; Families; Persons with HIV/AIDS; Persons with Mental Illness; Single Individuals; Substance Abusers; Unaccompanied Youth Under Age 18; Veterans; and Victims of Domestic Violence. The following breakdown for each of these subpopulations is based on a homeless survey that was conducted from Tuesday, January 24 through Thursday, January 26 and administered to 208 homeless adults. The 208 homeless adults who were surveyed represent a 43% sample of the 483 homeless adults who were counted. The survey was administered at the same locations where homeless persons were counted. Following HUD guidelines, the information gathered through the sample was used to estimate numbers of adults that fall within each subpopulation category as noted in the table below. For example, 87 or 42% of the 208 adults surveyed had mental illness. Thus, 203 or 42% of the 483 adults counted was estimated to have mental illness. 1

5 Table 1: Estimates of Subpopulations Based on the 2012 Homeless Count and 2012 Homeless Survey Subpopulation # % Chronically Homeless Persons Persons with Chronic Health Condition Persons with Developmental Disabilities Persons with HIV/AIDS Persons with Mental Illness Persons with Physical Disabilities Substance Abusers Unaccompanied Youth Under Age Veterans Victims of Domestic Violence Youth Age 18 to

6 II. Background Information Concerning the Homeless Count The Department of Housing and Urban Development, as part of its requirements for local jurisdictions to continue to receive continuum of care funding for homeless persons, asks local jurisdictional applicants to conduct a one night point-in-time homeless count every other year during the last 10 days of January. When Was the Count Conducted? The homeless count was conducted on the streets during the hours of 6:30 am and 9:30 am on Tuesday, January 24, The count was also conducted on the same day in shelters and transitional housing programs. Who was Counted? A person was considered homeless, and thus counted, only when he/she fell within the following HUD-based definition by residing in one of the places described below: a. in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, parks, sidewalks, and abandoned buildings; b. in an emergency shelter; c. in transitional or supportive housing for homeless persons who originally came from the streets or emergency shelter. HUD does not consider the following persons to be homeless persons who are doubled up, or persons who are near homelessness but considers them to be at-risk of homelessness. Such persons were not included in the county s homeless count. The County of Merced, like many other counties, has a substantial number of households that are atrisk of becoming homeless. Twenty-two percent (27%) of Merced County residents were living below the poverty level according to the 2010 American Community Survey, which is the most current data available from the U.S. Census Bureau. This means that approximately 56,000 County residents representing nearly 17,000 households are at risk of becoming homeless on a day like today. One type of household that is notably at risk of becoming homeless is single-female headed households because 36% of all such households with children live below the poverty level. Another is households with children under age 5 because 34% live below the poverty level. The data also noted that 20% of all families and 11% of persons age 65 and over live below the poverty level. 3

7 Households living below the poverty level are at risk of becoming homeless. Because of their limited income they frequently have to choose between paying their rent or mortgage and other daily living costs such as child care, clothing, food, health care, and transportation. The generally accepted standard for housing affordability is that households should not spend more than 30% of their incomes on rent and utilities. Many households can become homeless because of social structural issues such as increases in rent, loss of job, and rising health care costs. In addition, personal experiences such as domestic violence, physical disabilities, mental illness, and substance abuse can cause members of a low income household or an entire household to become homeless as well. Often, one or more of these experiences factor into a household s homeless experience. Who Conducted the Count? Approximately 50 volunteers carried out the street count on January 24 between the hours of 6:30 am and 9:30 am. They consisted of a wide-range of local representatives from various public and private organizations which included: Businesses; Faith-based organizations; Homeless and Formerly Homeless individuals; Local government; Non-profit agencies. In addition, staff from shelters and transitional housing programs counted residents in their respective programs. How Was the Count Conducted? The 2012 homeless count was a county-wide effort. Prior to the count, volunteers attended two planning meetings and an orientation. During the planning meetings, key locations and mapping were discussed to ensure that concentrated areas were identified and efforts were made to minimize duplication. Where Was the Count Conducted? Areas identified included seven regions in the City of Merced and targeted areas in Atwater, Livingston, Los Banos, and numerous unincorporated locations. 4

8 III. Background Information Concerning the Homeless Survey The U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of the annual Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program application requires information about the following homeless subpopulations: Chronically Homeless Persons; Persons with HIV/AIDS; Persons with Mental Illness; Substance Abusers; Unaccompanied Youth Under Age 18; Veterans; and Victims of Domestic Violence. Thus, a survey was compiled that asked questions in order to ensure that accurate data would be collected for each subpopulation. In addition to the subpopulations noted above, additional questions were asked to collect data for the following subpopulations: Men; Persons with Chronic Illness; Persons with Developmental Disabilities; Persons with Physical Disabilities; Persons Released from Correctional Institutions; Women Youth Ages 18 to 24. When Was the Survey Conducted? The survey was administered on Tuesday, January 24 through Thursday, January 26. Who Was Surveyed? The homeless survey was administered to 208 homeless adults which is the equivalent of 43% of the number of adults who were counted on January 24. 5

9 Who Conducted the Survey? Approximately 50 volunteers carried out the survey. They consisted of a wide-range of local representatives from various public and private organizations which included: Businesses; Faith-based organizations; Homeless and Formerly Homeless individuals; Local government; Non-profit agencies. In addition, staff from shelters and transitional housing programs administered the survey to residents in their respective programs. How Was the Survey Conducted The process involved administering a one-on-one interview survey with a representative sample of homeless adults living in the County of Merced. There were three (3) primary methods of contact with homeless persons who participated in the survey. They were: 1) interviews with homeless persons who were contacted on the streets; 2) interviews with homeless persons who were contacted while living in shelters and transitional housing; and 3) interviews with homeless persons who were contacted while using non-residential homeless services. Where Was the Survey Conducted? The survey was conducted on the streets and at various residential and non-residential social service sites that participated in the homeless count. 6

10 IV. Findings Concerning the Homeless Survey This section provides information based upon survey questions for the following 14 homeless subpopulations: 1. Chronically Homeless Persons; 2. Men; 3. Persons with Chronic Health Conditions; 4. Persons with Developmental Disabilities; 5. Persons with Physical Disabilities; 6. Persons with HIV/AIDS; 7. Persons with Mental Illness; 8. Persons Released from Correctional Institutions; 9. Substance Abusers; 10. Unaccompanied Youth Under Age 18; 11. Veterans; 12. Victims of Domestic Violence; 13. Women; and 14. Youth Ages See Appendix A for a copy of the homeless survey. 7

11 1. Chronically Homeless Persons 61% or 126 of 208 survey respondents indicated they were chronically homeless according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development s (HUD) definition of chronic homelessness; According to HUD, the term chronically homeless means, with respect to an individual or family, that the individual or family (i) is homeless and lives or resides in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter; (ii) has been homeless and living or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter continuously for at least 1 year or on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years; and (iii) has an adult head of household (or a minor head of household if no adult is present in the household) with a diagnosable substance use disorder, serious mental illness, developmental disability (as defined in section 102 of the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C )), post traumatic stress disorder, cognitive impairments resulting from a brain injury, or chronic physical illness or disability, including the co-occurrence of 2 or more of those conditions. The following information provides a profile of chronic homeless persons based on the responses of 126 or 61% of survey respondents. Gender 70% of survey respondents were men and 30% were women; Ethnicity 35% were White; 35% were Hispanic or Latino; 12% were African American or Black; 5% were Other; 10% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 1% were Asian; and 2% did not have a recorded answer; 8

12 Age 0% were under the age of 18; 4% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 27% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 66% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 1% were age 62+; and 2% did not have a recorded answer. Homeless One Year or More 98% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 38% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 53% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 35% had a developmental disability; Chronic Health Condition 62% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; HIV/AIDS 5% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Mental Illness 54% felt that they had a mental health condition, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 44% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 14% reported that they were a veteran; 9

13 Domestic Violence 35% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 26% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 28% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 10

14 2. Men 69% or 140 of 208 survey respondents were men; The following information provides a profile of men based on the responses of 140 or 69% of survey respondents. Ethnicity 38% were White; 32% were Hispanic or Latino; 12% were African American or Black; 6% were Other; 10% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 1% were Asian; and 1% did not have a recorded answer; Age 1% were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 42% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 39% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 9% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 68% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 26% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 43% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 24% had a developmental disability; Chronic Health Condition 53% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; 11

15 HIV/AIDS 3% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Mental Illness 35% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 29% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 16% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 23% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 27% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 26% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 12

16 3. Persons with Chronic Health Conditions 57% or 119 of 208 survey respondents were persons with chronic health conditions; Persons with chronic health conditions were those that had diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis. The following information provides a profile of persons with chronic health conditions based on the responses of 119 or 57% of survey respondents. Gender 64% of survey respondents were men and 36% were women; Ethnicity 36% were White; 33% were Hispanic or Latino; 12% were African American or Black; 5% were Other; 11% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 1% were Asian; and 2% did not have a recorded answer; Age 0% were under the age of 18; 5% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 28% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 64% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 3% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 65% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 22% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 64% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 34% had a developmental disability; 13

17 HIV/AIDS 4% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Mental Illness 52% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 34% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 14% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 38% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 26% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 39% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 14

18 4. Persons with Developmental Disabilities 28% or 58 of 208 survey respondents were persons with developmental disabilities; The following information provides a profile of persons with developmental disabilities based on the responses of 58 or 28% of survey respondents. Gender 59% of survey respondents were men and 41% were women; Ethnicity 48% were White; 29% were Hispanic or Latino; 7% were African American or Black; 5% were Other; 7% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 0% were Asian; and 4% did not have a recorded answer; Age 0% were under the age of 18; 10% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 36% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 52% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 2% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 71% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 38% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 65% had a physical disability; Chronic Health Condition 69% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; 15

19 HIV/AIDS 2% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Mental Illness 78% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 33% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 15% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 45% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 35% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 36% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 16

20 5. Persons with Physical Disabilities 43% or 90 of 208 survey respondents were persons with physical disabilities; The following information provides a profile of persons with physical disabilities based on the responses of 90 or 43% of survey respondents. Gender 67% of survey respondents were men and 32% were women (1% did not have a recorded answer); Ethnicity 31% were White; 34% were Hispanic or Latino; 9% were African American or Black; 8% were Other; 13% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 1% were Asian; and 4% did not have a recorded answer; Age 0% were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 22% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 66% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 3% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 72% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 27% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Developmental Disability 42% had a developmental disability; Chronic Health Condition 84% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; 17

21 HIV/AIDS 3% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Mental Illness 54% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 32% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 17% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 37% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 28% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 36% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 18

22 6. Persons with HIV/AIDS or who Tested Positive for HIV 3% or 7 of 208 survey respondents were persons with HIV/AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; The following information provides a profile of persons with HIV/AIDS based upon the responses of 7 or 3% of survey respondents. Gender 71% of survey respondents were men and 29% were women. Ethnicity 14% or one person was White; 57% or five persons were Hispanic or Latino; 29% or two persons were African American or Black; 0% were Other; 0% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 0% were Asian; and 0% did not have a recorded answer; Age 0% were under the age of 18; 14% or one was between the ages of 18 through 24; 57% or four persons were between the ages of 25 and 39; 29% or two persons were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 0% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 86% or six persons were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 14% or one person was homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 43% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 14% had a developmental disability; 19

23 Chronic Health Condition 100% or all seven persons had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; Mental Illness 43% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 57% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 29% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 57% or two persons reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 27% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 0% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 20

24 7. Persons with Mental Illness 42% or 87 of 208 survey respondents were persons with mental illness; The following information provides a profile of persons with mental illness based on the responses of 87 or 42% of survey respondents. Gender 59% of survey respondents were men and 41% were women (1% did not have a recorded answer); Ethnicity 58% were White; 25% were Hispanic or Latino; 6% were African American or Black; 7% were Other; 1% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 0% were Asian; and 3% did not have a recorded answer; Age 0% were under the age of 18; 3% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 33% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 63% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 1% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 75% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 34% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 56% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 52% had a developmental disability; 21

25 Chronic Health Condition 71% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; HIV/AIDS 3% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Substance Abuse 46% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 18% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 45% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 28% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 50% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 22

26 8. Substance Abusers 43% or 90 of 208 survey respondents were substance abusers; The following information provides a profile of substance abusers based on the responses of 90 or 43% of survey respondents. Gender 68% of survey respondents were men and 32% were women; Ethnicity 31% were White; 34% were Hispanic or Latino; 9% were African American or Black; 8% were Other; 13% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 1% were Asian; and 4% did not have a recorded answer; Age 0% were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 22% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 66% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 3% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 72% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 27% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 100% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 42% had a developmental disability; 23

27 Chronic Health Condition 84% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; HIV/AIDS 3% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Mental Illness 54% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Veteran Status 17% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 37% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 52% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey. 24

28 9. Unaccompanied Youth Under Age 18 0% or 0 of 208 survey respondents were unaccompanied youth under age 18; The following information provides a profile of unaccompanied youth under age 18 based upon the responses of 0 or 0% of survey respondents. Gender 0% of survey respondents were male and 0% were female; Ethnicity 0% were White; 0% were Hispanic or Latino; 0% were African American or Black; 0% were Other; 0% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 0% were Asian; Homeless One Year or More 0% was homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 0% was homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 0% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 0% had a developmental disability; Chronic Health Condition 0% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; HIV/AIDS 0% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; 25

29 Mental Illness 0% had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 0% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 0% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 0% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 0% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 0% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 26

30 10. Veterans 13% or 27 of 208 survey respondents were veterans; The following information provides a profile of veterans based on the responses of 27 or 13% of survey respondents. Gender 85% of survey respondents were men and 15% were women; Ethnicity 48% were White; 26% were Hispanic or Latino; 7% were African American or Black; 8% were Other; 11% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 0% were Asian; and 0% did not have a recorded answer; Age 0% were under the age of 18; 4% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 22% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 66% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 8% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 70% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 26% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 56% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 33% had a developmental disability; 27

31 Chronic Health Condition 63% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; HIV/AIDS 7% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Mental Illness 59% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 37% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Domestic Violence 37% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 22% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 17% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 28

32 11. Women 31% or 64 of 208 survey respondents were women; The following information provides a profile of women based on the responses of 64 or 31% of survey respondents. Ethnicity 36% were White; 35% were Hispanic or Latino; 8% were African American or Black; 9% were Other; 9% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 2% were Asian; and 1% did not have a recorded answer; Age 0% were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 30% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 59% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 2% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 67% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 23% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 45% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 37% had a developmental disability; Chronic Health Condition 64% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; 29

33 HIV/AIDS 3% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Mental Illness 56% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 42% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 6% or one person reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 48% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 19% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 58% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 30

34 12. Victims of Domestic Violence 31% or 65 of 208 survey respondents were victims of domestic violence; The following information provides a profile of victims of domestic violence based on the responses of 65 or 31% of survey respondents. Gender 49% of survey respondents were men and 51% were women; Ethnicity 38% were White; 28% were Hispanic or Latino; 6% were African American or Black; 14% were Other; 8% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 1% was Asian; and 5% did not have a recorded answer; Age 1% were under the age of 18; 9% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 42% were between the ages of 25 and 39; 37% were between the ages of 40 and 61; and 9% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 71% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 32% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 51% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 40% had a developmental disability; 31

35 Chronic Health Condition 69% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; HIV/AIDS 6% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; Mental Illness 60% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 46% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 15% reported that they were a veteran; Released from Correctional Institution 3% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 100% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 32

36 13. Youth Ages % or 9 of 208 survey respondents were youth ages 18-24; The following information provides a profile of youth ages based on the responses of 9 or 4% of survey respondents. Gender 33% of survey respondents were men and 67% were women; Ethnicity 43% were White; 56% were Hispanic or Latino; 0% were African American or Black; 0% were Other; 0% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; 1% was Asian; and 0% did not have a recorded answer; Homeless One Year or More 56% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 11% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 57% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 57% had a developmental disability; Chronic Health Condition 57% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; HIV/AIDS 11% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV; 33

37 Mental Illness 33% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 44% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using drugs not prescribed by a doctor including prescription or street drugs; Veteran Status 11% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 44% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence; Released from Correctional Institution 50% were released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a courtorder sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey; 0% of the persons released from a correctional institution were provided with information such as shelter/housing, social services, job training, and transportation. 34

38 14. Persons Released from Correctional Institutions 25% or 52 of 208 survey respondents were released from correctional institutions such as a prison or jail after serving a court-ordered sentence during the 12 months prior to the survey. The following information provides a profile of persons who were released from correctional institutions based on the responses of 52 or 25% of survey respondents. Gender 77% were men and 23% were women; Ethnicity 2% were African American or Black; 44% were White; 36% were Hispanic or Latino; 4% were Other; 4% were Asian; 8% were American Indian or Alaskan Native; and 2% did not have a recorded answer; Age 11% were between the ages of 18 through 24; 89% were between the ages of 25 and 61; and 0% were age 62+; Homeless One Year or More 65% were homeless one year or more; Homeless at Least Four Times in Last Three Years 35% were homeless at least four times in the last three years; Physical Disability 48% had a physical disability; Developmental Disability 38% had a developmental disability; 35

39 Chronic Health Condition 60% had a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis; HIV/AIDS 4% had been diagnosed with AIDS or had tested positive for HIV. Mental Illness 46% felt that they had a mental health problem, were taking medications for mental health issues, and/or had been hospitalized for mental health issues; Substance Abuse 36% had a drug or alcohol problem and/or were using one or more of the following drugs: Cocaine, crack, heroin, pcp/lsd, uppers/speed, and downers/tranquilizers; Veteran Status 11% reported that they were a veteran; Domestic Violence 48% reported that they had been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence. 36

40 V. Next Steps The findings in this report will be added to the Merced County 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness in order to help prioritize the residential and non-residential services that are needed to end homelessness in the lives of local residents. The plan was completed by May 2011 and was adopted by the Merced County Association of Governments Governing Board. Implementation of the plan immediately followed. The findings in this report will also be used to complete various sections of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development s (HUD) annual Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Program application. In particular, HUD requires this information in order to determine if the total number of homeless persons is increasing or decreasing and to determine if each homeless subpopulation is increasing or decreasing. Funding is contingent upon a jurisdiction s ability to end homelessness within its boundaries. 37

41 Appendix A 2012 Merced County Homeless Subpopulation Survey Today s Date: Interviewer: Name of Program or Street Location: Please record the following information about the person you are about to survey: Gender: Female Male Ethnicity: American Indian or Alaskan Native Asian/Pacific Islander Black or African-American Hispanic or Latino White Other Age: Under age 18* *if under age 18 ask: Are you a runaway youth? yes no don t know refused Household Status: Is the person a single individual or adult member of a family (check one) Begin asking the following questions: 1) Have you been homeless for the past 12 months? yes no 2) Have you been homeless for one year or more? yes no 3) How many times have you been homeless in the past three years? less than four episodes or at least four episodes (check one) 4) Do you have a physical disability? yes no don t know refused 5) Do you have a developmental disability? yes no don t know refused 6) Do you have a chronic health condition such as diabetes, heart trouble, high blood pressure, seizures, hepatitis, respiratory problems, epilepsy, tuberculosis, or arthritis? yes no don t know refused 7) Have you been diagnosed with AIDS or have you tested positive for HIV? yes no don t know refused 8) Do you feel you have a mental health condition? yes no don t know refused 9) Do you expect your mental health condition to be of long continued and indefinite duration and to substantially impair your ability to live independently yes no don t know refused 10) Do you have a drug or alcohol problem? yes no don t know refused 11) Do you expect your drug or alcohol problem to be of long continued and indefinite duration and to substantially impair your ability to live independently yes no don t know refused 12) Are you a veteran of the United States Armed Forces? yes no don t know refused 13) Have you ever been a victim of domestic or intimate partner violence? yes no don t know refused 14) During the last 12 months, were you released from a correctional institution such as a prison or jail after serving a court-order sentence? yes no don t know refused 15) If yes, did the correctional institution provide you with information before your release about the following: Shelter/housing opportunities social services transportation other: 38