Statistics, Reports and Ending Homelessness Plans
2009-2011 HUD Funding (Center on Budget and Policy Priorities)
The President has signed into law an omnibus appropriations act for 2009. This law provides 2009 funding for most federal agencies, including affordable housing and community development programs administered by HUD. In the attached memo, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities provides a preliminary analysis of the major low-income housing and community development provisions of the law.
Costs Associated with First-Time Homelessness for Families and Individuals
"This study measures costs associated with first-time homeless families and individuals incurred by homeless and mainstream service delivery systems in six study communities. Unaccompanied individuals were studied in Des Moines, Iowa; Houston, Texas; and Jacksonville, Florida. Families were studied in Houston, Texas; Kalamazoo, Michigan; Upstate South Carolina; and Washington, DC."
Emergency Shelter Assistance Program 2007-2008 Data
This is a report done by the Housing Division of the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development on data collected from agencies participating in the state-funded Emergency Shelter Assistance Program.
Habitat for Humanity Shelter Report 2010: The Case for Low-Income Homeowners
Habitat’s second Shelter Report focuses on the important role of low-income homeownership in the United States. The report discusses the impact housing has on families’ lives and tools for how they can succeed as homeowners.
Given the current economic climate, falling home prices and the high rate of foreclosures, now more than ever, low-income homeownership in the United States can give families self-sufficiency and a path out of poverty.
Homeless Families in Washington State
This study was conducted to provide state policy makers and program executives with basic information about homeless families relying on shelters. A second purpose was to find out to what extent the families were using DSHS supports: welfare benefits, assistance getting jobs, health insurance, substance abuse treatment, and mental health care.
Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act
In 2005, the legislature passed the Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act, requiring each county in Washington to develop a plan to end homelessness. Provides up to $15 million over ten years to help counties achieve those goals.
Life after Transitional Housing for Homeless Families
Federal legislation to support the development of transitional housing programs for homeless people (TH) was first introduced in 1986, and ultimately incorporated into the first Stewart B. McKinney Act in 1987 as part of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Supportive Housing Program (SHP). HUD’s division of Community Planning and Development has had responsibility for the SHP since 1989, when a new administration brought all the McKinney Act housing programs together within the new Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs, which manages and directs the program.
By 1996 there were about 4,400 transitional housing programs offering about 160,000 beds (Burt et al. 1999). By 2007 there were almost 7,300 transitional housing programs offering about 211,000 beds. About 53 percent of the TH beds reported in 2007 are designated for families (HUD 2008), creating a capacity to serve about 40,000 families at a time.
Local Plans to End Homelessness
View county plans to end homelessness developed as a result of the Homelessness Housing and Assistance Act.
Out of Reach—Housing Wage Data
How much must a household earn in order to afford market rate rents? The National Low Income Housing Coalition puts out an annual report on the relationiship between housing costs and wages.
Strategies for Improving Homeless People’s Access to Mainstream Benefits and Services
"The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has been funding transitional housing, permanent supportive housing, and related supportive services projects for homeless people since 1988, under the authority granted by the Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act of 1987 and its subsequent modifications. When HUD began funding these projects under its Supportive Housing Program (SHP) as competitive grants, and later (starting in 1996) through the Continuum of Care (CoC) process, it gave applicants discretion to use HUD homeless funds for whatever mix of eligible activities they preferred. As a result, by 2000, nearly 60 percent of HUD homeless funds were being used by communities for services such as daycare and drug treatment, while the remaining funds were used for housing."
Tools for Identifying High-Cost, High-Need Homeless Persons
A study that provides tools for identifying homeless individuals with acute needs, the highest public costs when homeless, and the greatest reduction in public costs when housed has been released by the Economic Roundtable. There are compelling humanitarian and public balance sheet reasons for providing permanent supportive housing for these most vulnerable homeless residents.
US Conference of Mayors 2008 Report on Hunger and Homelessness
Data on hunger and homelessness from selected cities across the US, including Seattle.
Washington State Homeless Families Plan
The Homeless Families Plan is a result of the homeless childrens lawsuit, and is updated each biennium. It has updated data on shelter use by and prevention services to families.
Washington State Insititute for Public Policy
The Institute’s mission is to carry out practical, non-partisan research—at legislative direction—on issues of importance to Washington State. The Institute conducts research using its own policy analysts and economists, specialists from universities, and consultants. Institute staff work closely with legislators, legislative and state agency staff, and experts in the field to ensure that studies answer relevant policy questions. Fiscal and administrative services for the Institute are provided by The Evergreen State College.
WSIPP has conducted research on homelessness and vulnerable populations as they relate to public policy and or funding, and is a great resource on these issues.
Washington State Point in Time Count of Homeless Persons
Each year, providers in every county are required to count the number of people living in shelters, transitional housing and permanent supportive housing, and on the streets on one day in January. This is a snapshot of homelessness in Washington. See the latest data on the Department of Commerce Website.