homelessness

Category 1: Literally Homeless

lack of a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime resident

Category 2: Imminent Risk

at risk of losing primary nighttime resident

Category 3: Homeless under Federal Statutes

unaccompanied youths, traveling w/o adult supervision or families under other statutes

Category 4: Fleeing/attempting to flee domestic violence (DV)

staying at DV shelter- considered adequate, limited stay (almost always full), step out house

Mckinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Improvement act of 2001

ensure that each child and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education

includes children and youth who: share the house of other persons, abandoned in hospitals, awaiting foster care placement

runaway youth

a person under 18 years of age who absents himself or herself for home or place of legal residence without the permission of his or her family

Homeless youth

a person under 18 years of age who is need of services and without a place of shelter where he or she receives supervision or care

Continuum of care

1 application in community among multiple provides

more accurate number of homeless population

tracks them so they are not counted multiple times

point in time count

number of sheltered homeless people on a single night in late January of every year (annual count)

every 2 years on odd year- includes both sheltered and unsheltered

Annual Homeless Assessment Report

delivered to congress

department of education

collects the numbers of homeless students enrolled in local education agencies and information on those students’ night time residents- includes high education

general demographics

59.6% men, 39.2% women, 1.2% transgender nonbinary, questioning

decliningg rate of veterans

31.5% identified as Black, African American, or African up from 13.7%

31% Hispanic

60% are children under age 18

morbidity rates in adult homeless population

higher rates of respiratory infections and trauma

higher rates of chronic disease

ex/ hypertension, musculoskeletal disorders, GI problems, etc

homeless children: health problems

asthma, iron deficiency anemia, obesity, higher rate of severe allergies, higher rates of ear infections, mental health problems, behavioral issues, delayed development

homeless children: their education

decreased levels of performance on standardized tests

high number of missed days

more likely to repeat grade levels

lack of educational resources

lack of access to physical hygiene facilities and supplies

homeless youth: their health

greater risk of pregnancy, miscarriage, and unprotected/unsafe sex

increased risk of STIs

increased risk of drug-seeking behaviors

greater incidence of mental health disorders than their “homed” counterparts

increased rates of depression and suicide

higher risks of unintentional injury

increased rates of “survival sex” and involvement with legal system

chronically homeless

unaccompanied adults who are homeless for extended or numerous periods of time and have one or more disabling conditions

often experience severe mental and substance abuse disorders

increased risk of health problems previously mentioned

significant percentage are at high risk for death

Affordable housing

if rent or mortgage is no more than 30% of his or her income

HUD programs

provides financial assistance to low income families

• direct payment to apartment owners, who in turn lower rent for low income tenants

• access to apartments located in public housing

• housing choice vouchers, used by low income persons to “pay” all or partial rent aka section 8 housing

Inadequacy and Scarcity of supportive services

need affordable healthcare

assistance with gaining and retaining jobs

assistance with maintaining housing

behavioral health care

barrier to escaping homelessness

history of prior evictions, lack of steady income, negative credit history, lack of knowledge of housing protections, lack of housing stock, mental illness, addiction, personal struggles that strain relationship with family and friends

federally qualified health centers

receive federal funds to providing primary health care and substance abuse services to homeless populations as wall as migrant seasonal farmworkers and their families and residents of public housing