Homeless in South County by the Numbers

There's been a lot of counting. Many people know there's a problem with homelessness, but don't know if it's a big problem. Some think we don't even HAVE a problem (it is rarely the people who are homeless who think that way!) People who want to help want more information about causes of homelessness, and the problems experienced by those who are homeless.

In February, South County volunteers participated in the Point-in-Time Count and Survey, an attempt to quantify and describe the homeless population. Then in June and July, South County joined the Housing1000 effort to interview, and create a registry of individuals who are homeless, so that those with the highest levels of vulnerability could be housed first. On July 20, the Gilroy Compassion Center conducted a survey of homeless individuals to determine what services they needed and would use.

Here's what we've found out so far:

• 1,327 homeless residents were found in South County during the point in time count (an increase of 264 since the 2009 count), 126 who were veterans.
• 3,437 individuals will experience homelessness in South County this year (an increase of 652 since 2009.)
• 83% of those counted were individuals, 17% in families.
• 61% of those counted were Hispanic / Latino.
• 49% cited "lost job" as the primary cause of homelessness (compared to 29% in 2009).
• 29% of South County homeless have a physical disability. 24% have mental illness (including PTSD and depression).
• Of those who filled out the Gilroy Needs Survey at Project Homeless Connect, 47% were in families with children.
• 85% said they would use a shelter, if it was available, either frequently or sometimes.
• 100% said they would use breakfast, showers, laundry, and bathrooms, if these were available.
• 70% or more said they would frequently use a job board, housing board, mailing address, clothes closet, career closet, and telephone if these were available.
• More than half would frequently use computer and internet access, voice mail, resume-writing assistance, or job search assistance.
• 230 individuals came to Project Homeless Connect in Gilroy on July 20, with a line forming down the block hours before the event event opened. 80 of them entered the Housing1000 registry and 57 completed the Gilroy Needs Survey.
• 12% of the Gilroy respondents are working fulltime and 21% are working part-time.
• 50% of the South County respondents receive no government assistance of any kind.

What does it all mean?

• 7% of the homeless individuals in Santa Clara County are in South County, where there are no emergency shelters or one-stop centers. South County accounts for only 3% of the overall Santa Clara County population.
• The point-in-time count probably undercounted families, by not considering people living in motels, backyards, and doubled-or-tripled up in family homes.
• People need jobs...but in many cases a job is not sufficient to prevent or escape homelessness.
• There is a high demand for low-cost housing.
• Homeless individuals in South County need basic services: overnight shelter, breakfast, showers, bathrooms, laundry, clothing, mailing address, and telephone access.

Now what?

• The Housing1000 effort will aim to find homes for the 1000 most vulnerable of the 7,042 homeless individuals in Santa Clara County, over the next three years.
• More affordable housing will be needed, at the low-income and very-low income levels to accomodate the other 6,000 and those who were not counted or not yet homeless at the time of the count.
• The Gilroy Compassion Center will continue efforts to build an organization that can provide one-stop and emergency shelter services for South County. Funding from public and private sources will be necessary to make this happen. Individuals who wish to join the effort should contact gilroycompassioncenter@yahoo.com.
• Clearly, more ideas are needed. Please add yours!