Key Facts from the
City of
The COC’s year-round homeless survey gathers information on clients from 15 different agencies throughout the year. Surveys are filled out on each household who are homeless or are imminently at-risk of becoming homeless, then turned in to People of Progress who coordinates this project, tabulates surveys, removes duplicates, and generates reports. Key facts from 2006 include:
2,584 total individuals representing 1,484 households were homeless at some point during the year and
1,405 total individuals representing 607 households were imminently at-risk of becoming homeless.
956 children were homeless and 696 children were imminently at-risk of becoming homeless.
The total of homeless and at-risk children was 1,652.
Of households that were homeless, 57% (846) had only one-person and 30% (445) had children
200-250 households (20%) would be classified under the federal definition of “Chronically Homeless”
(homeless continuously for more than a year or 4 or more times in the past 3 years COMBINED with having a physical or mental disability)
Most households (57%) were homeless at the time they answered the survey for three months or less.
( 39% households were homeless one month or less, 18% households were 2 to 3 months, 22% homeless one year or more )
Top three reasons for becoming homeless: loss of job (22%), loss of income (24%) domestic violence (15%). 369 loss of income, 334 loss of job, 20 loss of child’s income, 11 welfare sanctions, 10 welfare time limits, 119 divorce,
226 domestic violence, 130 substance abuse, 31 utility bills, 143 medical bills or health problems, 98 mental health, 203 eviction, 73 bad credit 34 fire / disaster / building condemned, 180 released form jail or prison
33% of households had no health insurance
6% of households had a veteran in them
7% of households had someone in or formerly in foster care
24% noted domestic violence in their past or present
Income: 19% were employed, 39% had no income, 2% received unemployment,
20% had income for disabilities, 3% retirement, 4% General Assistance, 12% CALWORKS.
56% have lived in
Only 24% were staying in a shelter at the time they answered the survey questions,
25% were on the street, camping or in a vehicle and 28% were temporarily staying with friends or family.
46% of heads of household were male, 52%female.
85% (1,267) white head of household, 9% (145) Native American, 4% (65) Black, 6% (98) Hispanic/Latino.
23% were on parole or probation
Services available locally for homeless people include:
- Food, meals, clothing, medical care, showers, bus passes, public assistance income, and legal services
- Shelters for men and for women with children.
- Domestic Violence Shelter for women and their children
- Veterans’ Recovery Project: group living for homeless vets.
- Faith-based transitional living group homes for ex-offenders and others.
- Motel vouchers for people unable to stay in local shelters due to medical or mental health or physical reasons.
- Medical care and outreach to homeless persons through
- Outreach counseling and casework services for severely and persistently mentally ill homeless persons
- Transitional Living program for homeless families
- Ongoing rental voucher assistance and intensive casework for severely/persistently mentally ill homeless persons
The COC meets monthly and works collaboratively to help better serve the wide spectrum of homeless people and their varying needs. You can find more information on services and organizations at: www.shastacoc.org
COC 2006 Year-long Homeless Survey Domestic Violence Facts:
369 HOH 17% who are homeless AND at-risk are victims of domestic violence (982 individuals, 481 kids)
202 homeless HOH 25% were victims of domestic violence (462 total people in their households, 247 kids, 104 of them under 5 years old)
356 households listed domestic violence – past or present-- as applying to them or someone in their household, (728 individuals with 332 of them children)
220 households 15% cited domestic violence as a cause of their becoming homeless
COC 2006 Year-long Homeless Survey Veteran Facts:
107 HOH who are homeless AND at-risk are veterans
74 homeless HOH were veterans (14 kids in their households)
15 homeless HOH veterans were female ( two of their households had one child each)
29 HOH who are homeless AND at-risk are female veterans (11 of these households have children, 32 total kids)
2007 Point in Time One-day Homeless Survey Facts:
On January 18, 2007 throughout the
In
Of these, 31 households (12%) comprising 46 total individuals (6 children) were not sheltered but were camping, sleeping in vehicles or otherwise on the street.
Of these 256 households:
82 households (32%) were in a homeless shelter, 121 individuals (37 children) (the question is worded,
“where did you stay last night?” however 98 came from GNRM but that can have included their transitional program)
63 households (24%) were living in transitional housing programs, 126 individuals (49 children)
2 households were in domestic violence shelter, 3 individuals (1 child)
23 households (8%) were in residential treatment programs, 27 individuals (3 children)
26 households (102%) were staying with friends/family, 73 individuals (35 children)
153 heads of households were male and 125 female
35 heads of households were veterans (13%)
185 households (72%) had lived in
68 heads of households (26%) were either on parole or probation
