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Homelessness Prevention and Intervention Network of NW Central Indiana
"Linking for a Common Goal"
The Facts
What is the definition of homelessness?
The HUD homeless definition has recently been changed to include:
- People who are living in a place not meant for human habitation, in emergency shelter, in transitional housing, or are exiting an institution where they temporarily resided. People will be considered homeless if they are exiting an institution where they resided for up to 90 days and were in shelter or a place not meant for human habitation immediately prior to entering that institution.
- People who are losing their primary nighttime residence, which may include a motel or hotel or a doubled up situation, within 14 days and lack resources or support networks to remain in housing.
- Families with children or unaccompanied youth who are unstably housed and likely to continue in that state. This is a new category of homelessness, and it applies to families with children or unaccompanied youth who have not had a lease or ownership interest in a housing unit in the last 60 or more days, have had two or more moves in the last 60 days, and who are likely to continue to be unstably housed because of disability or multiple barriers to employment.
- People who are fleeing or attempting to flee domestic violence, have no other residence, and lack the resources or support networks to obtain other permanent housing.
What causes homelessness?
Particularly within the context of poverty and the lack of affordable housing, certain additional factors may push people into homelessness. Other major factors, which can contribute to homelessness, include the following:
- Lack of Affordable Health Care- The number of people without health insurance increased by 4 percent from 47.2 million in 2009 to 48.8 million in 2010. Nationally, 1 out of every 6 people is uninsured.
- Domestic Violence- 12.30 percent of sheltered persons on the night of the PIT count were reported to be victims of domestic violence
- Mental Illness/Physical Disability- 26.2 percent of sheltered homeless adults had a severe mental illness
- Addiction Disorders- CoCs reported that 34.7 percent had a chronic substance abuse problem. Over half of adults in Permanent Supportive Housing had a substance abuse problem, a mental illness, or both.
How many of the homeless are children?
The number of homeless children in the United States is at its highest levels in the nation's history, according to a study released from the National Center on Family Homelessness. 1 out of every 45 children is homeless-some 1.6 million. A majority of them under 7.
Which states have the highest homelessness rates?
Click to view homelessness by state from the period 2009-2011.
The Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) is a report to the U.S. Congress on the extent and nature of homelessness in America. The report is prepared by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and provides nationwide estimates of homelessness, including information about the demographic characteristics of homeless persons, service use patterns, and the capacity to house homeless persons. The report is based primarily on Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) data about persons who experience homelessness during a 12-month period.
The 2010 AHAR report can be viewed here.
914 South Street Lafayette, IN 47905 Phone: 765-742-9077 E:mail info@hpinregion4.org
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