Definition of Homelessness

According to HUD, a person is considered homeless only if at the time of the count he/she resided in one of the places described below:

• An unsheltered homeless person resides in a place not meant for human habitation, such as a car, park, sidewalk, abandoned building (on the street).

• A sheltered homeless person resides in an emergency shelter, or transitional housing or supportive housing for homeless persons who originally came from the streets or emergency shelters.

Limitations of a Point-in-Time Count

National research indicates that point-in-time counts generally underestimate the count of those who are homeless because:

• There are those, particularly families with children and youth, who are doubled-up, living with other families. In some instances, if a landlord discovered two households residing at one residence, both families could be asked to leave.
• A point-in-time is just a “snapshot” and may not capture all those who are cycling in and out of homelessness over the course of a specific time frame.
• It is difficult to find where all the unsheltered people reside. It is impossible to know all the places where tents might be pitched or where the empty cars are located that might provide shelter for one night.

Challenges for those who are homeless and mentally ill

• It may be difficult to find and sustain employment or have a source of income that sustains housing.
• Even if you qualify for disability, you still may not be able to afford housing. The monthly income of someone receiving disability income is $564 while the average market rent of a one-bedroom apartment is $700.
• Some preventive services that would benefit those with mental illness are not reimbursable services and can result in clients becoming more at risk of greater illness.

Homelessness can complicate mental illness.

• It may be difficult for those who are homeless with mental illness to take medications regularly or to make scheduled appointments with mainstream mental health providers.

10-Year Plans to End Homelessness

Orange County will be releasing a plan in the Fall of 2006. Durham County’s plan will be released mid-March, with implementation beginning July 1, 2006. The City of Raleigh and Wake County will host an annual performance report event on April 20, 2006 to share the results of their first year in the process.

2006 Triangle Point-In-Time Homeless Count Release

Access to Adequate Mental Health Services Impacts Homelessness

DURHAM-- The 2006 Triangle Point-In-Time Count conducted on January 25 revealed there are currently over 1,711 homeless men, women and children in the Triangle living on the streets and in homeless shelters. The one-night count conducted by outreach workers, police officers, housing providers and volunteers throughout Durham, Orange and Wake counties further revealed:

• 981*homeless in Wake County, 1,106 homeless in 2005 count

• 502 homeless in Durham County, 535 homeless in 2005 count

• 237 homeless in Orange County, 230 homeless in 2005 count

Domestic violence, underemployment and unemployment, substance abuse and mental illness might lead to homelessness, however, it is these factors coupled with the lack of affordable housing that creates homelessness. Approximately 30-40 percent of homeless North Carolinians have mental illness according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. People with serious mental illness have greater difficulty exiting homelessness than other people. They are homeless more often and for longer periods of time than other homeless subgroups. Homeless individuals suffering from mental illness are often not aware that they are ill and need care. ( National Health Care for the Homeless Council ).

“The intersection of poor mental health and homelessness is irrefutable. Untreated mental illness and disability coupled with lack of affordable housing contributes to homelessness and presents barriers to ending it,” said Craig Chancellor, President and CEO of Triangle United Way.

The consequences of limited access to comprehensive mental health care are reflected in extremely high rates of both chronic and acute mental health problems among people experiencing homelessness. Being homeless makes it difficult, if not impossible, for someone with mental illness to take medications regularly and to make scheduled appointments with mental health providers. Even those qualifying for disability have trouble accessing affordable housing. The monthly income of someone who is receiving disability income is $564 while the average market rent of a one-bedroom apartment in the Triangle is $700. (Priced Out In 2004, August 2005 from the Consortium of Citizens with Disability Housing Task Force)

“Homelessness among people with serious mental illness can be prevented with discharge planning to help those leaving institutions access housing, mental health, and other necessary community services during the difficult transitions from hospitals, shelters, or jails,” according to Triangle United Way Community Impact Specialist for Homelessness Stan Holt.

Through partnerships in Durham, Orange and Wake counties, 10-Year Plans to prevent and end homelessness are taking shape and communities are being mobilized for change to move from managing homelessness to ending homelessness. The Wake County 10-Year Plan will release a one-year progress report of its plan in April. The 10-Year Plan in Durham will be released in March and the 10-Year Plan in Orange County is beginning to develop their plan and will host a series of forums in the coming months. Please contact Stan Holt at sholt@unitedwaytriangle.org or 463-5023 for information on how you can get involved in your community.

*This is only the preliminary number, as a couple of Wake County providers have not reported their data at the time of release.