In 2015, there were 20,462 homeless people in families without shelter in the United States and not enough shelter beds for them in many of the nation’s Continuum of Care (CoC) areas. An additional 6,814 to 10,130 shelter beds are needed in emergency shelter, transitional housing, permanent housing, and rapid rehousing units to have enough shelter for all unsheltered homeless families with children in each CoC area. Continue reading The 2015 HUD Count Shows an Additional 6,800 to 10,100 Shelter Beds are Needed for Homeless Families with Children
Category Archives: Homelessness
The Proposed FY2017 Budget Provides Significant Funding to End Homelessness But Should Provide Shelter for All
The President’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2017 maintains housing and homeless assistance funding dedicated to ending veteran homelessness, proposes homeless assistance funding to end chronic homelessness in 2017, and proposes housing and homelessness assistance funding to end homelessness for families and youth in 2020. Given the critical importance of shelter, the budget should provide enough resources to provide shelter for every homeless person without shelter and housing and homelessness assistance funding targeted to other homeless individuals.
Continue reading The Proposed FY2017 Budget Provides Significant Funding to End Homelessness But Should Provide Shelter for All
As in 2014, the 2015 Point-in-Time Count Showed That More Than 13,000 Additional Shelter Beds are Needed for Unaccompanied Homeless Young Adults in 47 States
On a given night in 2015, there were 14,689 unaccompanied homeless youth between the ages of 18 and 24 without shelter in the United States and not enough shelter beds to give them shelter in each Continuum of Care (CoC). To have enough shelter for each unaccompanied homeless young adult in each Continuum of Care, an additional 13,059 to 13,526 shelter beds are needed in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing.
Continue reading As in 2014, the 2015 Point-in-Time Count Showed That More Than 13,000 Additional Shelter Beds are Needed for Unaccompanied Homeless Young Adults in 47 States
Not Enough Shelters for Unaccompanied Homeless Children in 21 to 23 States
On a given night in 2015, there were 2,380 unaccompanied homeless children without shelter in the United States and not enough shelter beds to give them shelter in each Continuum of Care (CoC). To have enough shelter for each unaccompanied homeless child in each Continuum of Care, an additional 1,758 to 1,896 shelter beds are needed in emergency shelters, transitional housing, and permanent supportive housing.
Continue reading Not Enough Shelters for Unaccompanied Homeless Children in 21 to 23 States
HUD’s New “Chronically Homeless” Definition is Inconsistent with Its Long-Standing Definition and is Unreasonable
In addition to HUD’s new definition for the term “chronically homeless” being inconsistent with the text and purpose of Congress’s definition in the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act(HEARTH Act), the new regulatory definition is also not reasonable. HUD’s new definition is not consistent with its long-standing definition
that has been published in the Federal Register, the change will reduce the safety of homeless individuals who may be forced to spend more time on the streets and the basis for the change is to target limited resources to a subset of chronically homeless individuals and families, a facet not allowed in the HEARTH Act. Continue reading HUD’s New “Chronically Homeless” Definition is Inconsistent with Its Long-Standing Definition and is Unreasonable
HUD’s “Chronically Homeless” Definition Does Not Affect Permanent Housing Eligibility Nor Can It Add Extra Time Requirements
On December 4, 2015, the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) published its final rule to define the term “chronically homeless” for use in HUD’s Continuum of Care Program and in the Consolidated Submissions for Community Planning and Development Programs. HUD defines “chronically homeless” as a homeless individual with a disability who lives in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter and has been homeless and living in such a place continuously for at least 12 months or on at least 4 separate occasions in the last 3 years, as long as the combined occasions equal at least 12 months and each break in homelessness separating the occasions included at least 7 consecutive nights of not living in such a place. Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing: Defining “Chronically Homeless”, 80 Fed. Reg. 75791, 75804 (Dec. 4, 2015). A family with an adult head of household (or a minor head of household in families with no adult) who meets this criteria is also classified as chronically homeless. Id. The rule also states that stays in institutional care facilities for fewer than 90 days are included in the 12-month total and do not constitute a break. Id.
Continue reading HUD’s “Chronically Homeless” Definition Does Not Affect Permanent Housing Eligibility Nor Can It Add Extra Time Requirements
No Safety or Shelter for 9,200 to 11,600 People Fleeing Domestic Violence on a Given Night
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness should set a goal to prevent and end homelessness for individuals and families experiencing domestic violence and Congress should provide the resources to ensure that every adult or child who is escaping domestic violence has access to shelter. Continue reading No Safety or Shelter for 9,200 to 11,600 People Fleeing Domestic Violence on a Given Night
The Continuing Resolution Should Provide Funding for the 29,000 to 35,000 Chronically Homeless Individuals and Families Without Shelter
Despite the long-lasting nature of chronic homelessness, the goal to end chronic homelessness has been delayed and chronic homelessness still exists because enough resources have not been provided. Continue reading The Continuing Resolution Should Provide Funding for the 29,000 to 35,000 Chronically Homeless Individuals and Families Without Shelter
Congress Should Provide Assistance to the 10,000 to 15,000 Adults and Children in Families Who Have No Shelter
Congress should provide the funding requested in the fiscal year 2016 budget to support the goal to prevent and end homelessness for families, youth, and children in 2020 because it would be able to keep families off of the streets on any given night. Continue reading Congress Should Provide Assistance to the 10,000 to 15,000 Adults and Children in Families Who Have No Shelter
On Any Given Night, 84,000 to 95,000 Homeless Adult Individuals Can Find No Shelter
In addition to establishing the goal of preventing and ending homelessness for families, youth, and children in 2020, Opening Doors: The Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness describes goals to prevent and end homelessness among Veterans in 2015 and end chronic homelessness in 2017 and to set a path to end all types of homelessness. Specific goals to end all types of homelessness are needed and shelter is needed for all persons that experience homelessness to save lives, reduce injuries and health-related complications, and provide a place of respite to sleep and restore the sense of stability needed to obtain housing, jobs, or other support. Continue reading On Any Given Night, 84,000 to 95,000 Homeless Adult Individuals Can Find No Shelter