A Snapshot
2,822 women and children comprised 48% of the total homeless population with 51 of the children unaccompanied 17 and younger in age.
Of those homeless longer than one year, 51% were living in transitional or permanent supportive housing which is a decrease from 62% living in transitional or permanent supportive housing in the previous year’s count who reported being homeless longer than one year.
Chronically homeless individuals, those homeless longer than one year with a disability, numbered 514 similar to the 2010 total of 504. Since 2004 the number of chronic homeless has decreased 57%.
The Incredible Success of MDHA and The Bridge
Although the total number of homeless remained relatively stable in 2011 compared to 2010, the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance (MDHA) believes this was quite an accomplishment for the community given the challenges of the economy, the loss of jobs, homes and additional stress put on our public health and human service systems by increased demand and often reduced resources. Additional data gathered recently includes a report from UT Southwestern that homelessness in the public mental health system has been cut in half since the opening of the Bridge (City of Dallas main organization that deals with homelessness) in 2008.
The Challenges our Community Faces with Homelessness
The Dallas community is gaining ground in moving chronically homeless single adults into transitional and permanent supportive housing but needs to do much more – for the sake of our homeless neighbors and for the economic interests of our local governments. Success in housing means fewer homeless individuals on the streets and in emergency shelters, reduced jail and criminal justice costs and reduced psychiatric and other hospitalizations.
The sustainability of the Bridge given its track record in achieving recovery for chronic and long term homeless individuals in permanent supportive housing must be a community priority.
Our public behavioral health entity (mental health and substance abuse services) NorthStar, is over extended, underfunded, and beginning to lose ground in its ability to address the needs of people with mental disorders and addictions in the region.
Because of the tragedy of homeless, the costs of undertreated mental health and substance conditions in homeless adults (three times higher than in other populations with mental disorders) immediate attention to prioritization of homeless populations in services funding makes human and economic common sense.
The most difficult to count and an almost invisible homeless population are the families with children and youth 17 years of age and younger living on their own. Our efforts to track the unmet needs of families who are homeless and to articulate clearer solutions need to be redoubled.
Local policy makers including those that give oversight to the public mental health and substance abuse system need to increase attention to effective research and planning and targeted funding to develop permanent supportive housing for homeless populations with mental illnesses and addictions. Our data clearly supports the notion that with increased permanent supportive housing the tide has turned in our efforts to end chronic homelessness.
We must also provide these supportive housing programs for families experiencing homelessness where one of the parents is diagnosed with a disability.
Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance’s collaboration with the Dallas Housing Authority has resulted in placing more than 600 chronically homeless persons in housing units over the past two years and the Housing Authority is to be commended.
The need for more short-term transitional housing is apparent for youth and young adults who do not qualify for permanent supportive housing. Many of them have the capacity to become gainfully employed and fully self-sufficient, once short-term problems are addressed and resolved.
Investing more public dollars into affordable housing for families and individuals with the lowest incomes will pay off in human and economic outcomes and the quality of life in the Dallas area.
The continuing increase in the number of women and children and unaccompanied children 17 and younger is of concern and needs more focus from MDHA and the community in the following months.
To see the latest 2011 report on homelessness, click here: