The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in November released the latest national estimate of homelessness, highlighting a continuing decline across the nation. HUD’s 2015 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress found an overall 11 percent decline in the number of persons experiencing homelessness since 2010, including a 26 percent drop in the number of persons living on the streets. In Michigan, local communities reported a total 10,516 persons experienced homelessness, representing a 19.5 percent decline since 2010, the year President Obama launched Opening Doors, the nation’s first-ever comprehensive strategy to prevent and end homelessness.
Nationwide, Veteran homelessness declined 36 percent from 2010 to 2015; family homelessness dropped 19 percent, and chronic homelessness fell 22 percent. Meanwhile in Michigan, Veteran homelessness rose 11.3 percent between 2010 and 2015; family homelessness declined 31.6 percent; chronic homelessness fell 54.5 percent.
HUD’s annual report shows that certain communities are making significant progress, while others are struggling in light of the widespread housing affordability crisis, budget shortfalls, or slow adoption of best practices. The results are based on HUD’s ‘point-in-time’ estimates, which measure the scope of homelessness on a single night in January each year.
“The Obama Administration has made an historic commitment to effectively end homelessness in this nation. Together with our partners across the federal government and communities from coast to coast, we have made tremendous progress toward our ambitious goals. But our work is far from finished. We have to continue [investing] in the strategies that work so everyone has a roof over their head,” said Julian Castro, HUD Secretary.
“HUD has been laser focused on best practices to end homelessness as we know it today,” said Antonio R. Riley, HUD Midwest Regional Administrator. “We will continue to work tirelessly with our partners to shift the homelessness paradigm, reduce recidivism and continue to support rapid re-housing and permanent supportive hosing opportunities.”
Key Findings
—On a single night in January 2015, state and local planning agencies in Michigan reported the following estimates of homelessness:
—Overall, homelessness declined by 2,542 persons or 19.5% since 2010. In January 2015, an estimated 10,516 people were homeless on a given night. Most (89.8%t) were staying in residential programs for homeless people, and 10.2% were found in
unsheltered locations.
—Homelessness among Veterans rose by 11.3% between 2010 and January 2015. On that night, 1,067 veterans were homeless; of those 7.1% were on the street.
—Chronic homelessness among individuals continued to decline. — since 2010, by 54.5%. Over 800 individuals experiencing homelessness in Jan. 2015 were reported as chronically homeless.
—Local communities reported a 15.5% reduction in families experiencing homelessness between 2014 and 2015. Since 2010, family homelessness declined 31.6%.
Read the report at www.hudexchange.info/resource/4832/2015-ahar-part-1-pit-estimates-of-homelessness/
Since the passage of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in 1987, HUD has worked to build the capacity of homeless programs across the country. By targeting investments to individuals and families who need assistance most – those living on the streets longest or with greatest barriers to housing – HUD ensures that its limited resources are used as effectively and efficiently as possible. Despite increased requests in the President’s budgets, HUD homeless assistance funding has not kept pace with need, but HUD still incentivizes comunities to target resources, prioritize help, and invest in programs with proven records.
HUD revised its data collection requirements on youth experiencing homelessness, and is working with communities to improve collection to better understand the scope of homelessness, including efforts like youth engagement and collaboration with schools.
Improved data collection is only part of HUD’s strategy to end homelessness. Communities are implementing systems to quickly and effectively house individuals and families in a coordinatedway. Working across agencies, these communities are creating unprecedented partnerships toward achieving the national goal of ending homelessness.
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