Strategies to End Homelessness is celebrating some good news in Hamilton County's homeless numbers. The just released 2014 Community Data Report finds homelessness declined to levels not seen since 2010. According tothe report, there were 7,810 people counted on the streets, in shelters, and in transitional housing programs in Hamilton County.
Housing and Urban Development changed the way it requires communities to count homeless people, which added to the decrease. However, Strategies to End Homelessness says the county's numbers were still down on top of that.
The report shows the number of people staying in emergency shelters declined by 2.5 percent from 2013. Meanwhile, the number of people served in permanent housing programs increased by 35 percent.
In a statement, Strategies to End Homelessness president and CEO Kevin Finn credits the decrease to a strategic use of increased funding.
By The Numbers:
· 29% of people experiencing homelessness are children, 21% are under age 12, and 6% are children that are not accompanied by and adult. · 59% are male and 41% are female. · 66% are African American; 30% are white and 3% are multiple races. · 15% of adults are veterans
· 97% of persons in permanent housing programs remained in permanent housing as of the end of the year, or exited to other permanent housing. · The average household placed into permanent housing increased their income by over $584 per month while in the program.
