Understanding Homelessness

The homeless are persons that lack “fixed, regular, and adequate” housing. Most homeless persons reside in Emergency Shelters or Transitional Housing, though some live on the street or in other places not meant for habitation.

Many homeless persons live with physical or mental health problems or other disabling conditions that contribute to their homelessness. Poverty, unemployment and the cost of maintaining housing also cause homelessness, especially among families.

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines the chronically homeless as individuals with disabling conditions that have either been continuously homeless for a year or those who have had four episodes of homelessness in the past three years.

Organizing Homeless Services

The Community Partnership coordinates the District of Columbia’s Continuum of Care – a plan for providing shelter, housing and services in measures that meet the needs of those who are homeless in our community.  In the 20 years since our inception, the Community Partnership has helped change the District’s CoC from a system focused on emergency shelter to one that includes outreach, prevention and supportive service programs as well as a large portfolio of transitional and permanent supportive housing options.

Data & Reporting

In order to prevent homelessness, we must understand it as it exists in our community. The information in this section details various aspects of homelessness in D.C., programs within D.C.’s Continuum of Care and the progress we are making towards ending homelessness.

Fast Facts on Homelessness in D.C.

There are over 6,200 homeless persons in the District of Columbia

On January 28, 2009, the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness conducted the annual Point-in-Time enumeration. Point-in-Time presents a yearly “snapshot” of how many people are homeless and where they are in Continuum on a single, specific day.

There were 6,228 persons counted in the District on the date of Point-in-Time. This was an increase of three (3) percent from the count conducted in 2008.

Literally Homeless Persons Counted				% Change
2006	2007	2008	2009	2006-2009
6,157	5,757	6,044	6,288	1.2%

The homeless are counted in two categories: the “literally homeless” – those without shelter, and those living in emergency shelter or transitional housing – and the “formerly homeless” – those living in permanent supportive housing. The formerly homeless remain at risk of becoming homeless again without the support provided by these dedicated housing resources.

Permanent housing is seen as the solution to homelessness and the District’s permanent housing inventory plays an important role in moving the city’s homeless toward greater stability. On the Point-in-Time date, 3,469 formerly homeless single persons and persons in families were counted in permanent supportive housing. This is a 15 percent increase from the count conducted in 2007.

Homeless Single Persons

There are 3,934 literally homeless single persons in Washington, D.C.

Most homeless single persons in the District are considered “chronically homeless” due to repeated or lengthy episodes of homelessness or deep disabilities. Persons with these disabilities, such as mental health issues or chronic substance abuse, are difficult to stabilize in shelter-based living arrangements. Permanent supportive housing resources are key to ending their homelessness.

Nearly two-thirds of single homeless persons reside in the city’s emergency shelters. Single homeless persons in the District are predominantly male and are largely unemployed. Twenty percent of single persons served in the District’s emergency shelters lived outside of D.C. before becoming homeless and one in four has lived in an institutional setting such as foster care, jail or prison, a hospital, or substance abuse or psychiatric treatment facilities at some point in the past.

Client Data, Single Persons in Emergency Shelter

Clients Counted	2,449	% Chronically Homeless	61.3
% Men	75.7	Average Age (Men)	50
% Woman	24.1	Average Age (Women)	49
% Transgendered	0.2	% Employed	18.8
Subpopulations		Disabilities
% Formerly in Foster Care	2.6	% Chronic Health Problem	27.9
% Formerly Institutionalized	24.8	% Chronic Substance Abuser	33.8
% Language Minority	12.3	% Living with HIV/AIDS	2.3
% U.S. Military Veteran	15.3	% Physically Disabled	22.6
		% Severely Mentally Ill	21.0

Homeless Families

There are 703 literally homeless families in D.C. which include 868 adults and 1,426 children. Homeless families are most frequently headed by a sole female adult. Prior to becoming homeless most families lived in Ward 7 or 8.

Poverty and the lack of affordable housing, as opposed to the prevalence of disabilities, drive family homelessness in the District. D.C. has the highest poverty rate in the United States; and between 2000 and 2008, fair market rent for a two-bedroom apartment has increased by 58 percent. Eviction from rental property, house or from a friend or family members home is the primary reason for a District family will seek emergency shelter resources.

Permanent housing resources for families struggling with disabilities are needed but affordable housing and assistance for the precariously housed can help prevent families from becoming homeless. The District’s Project H.O.P.E. (Housing Opportunities and Prevention Efforts) serves roughly 100 families a month in order to help them avoid entering the shelter system.

Client Data, Adult Persons in Family Emergency Shelters

Clients Counted	254	% Chronically Homeless	n/a
% Men	19.7	Average Age (Men)	30
% Woman	80.3	Average Age (Women)	28
% Transgendered	0	% Employed	17.3
Subpopulations		Disabilities
% Formerly in Foster Care	9.1	% Chronic Health Problem	8.3
% Formerly Institutionalized	6.3	% Chronic Substance Abuser	6.3
% Language Minority	2.8	% Living with HIV/AIDS	2.4
% U.S. Military Veteran	2.8	% Physically Disabled	4.7
		% Severely Mentally Ill	3.9

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