Homeward Bound - Asheville, NC

What is Homelessness?

HUD Definition of Homelessness: A homeless person is a person or family that is living on the street or in an emergency shelter, or who would be living on the street or an emergency shelter without assistance.

Where Do the Homeless Reside?

Street Homeless : May live in tents, campsites, cars, abandoned buildings, roam from place to place during the night, or other places not fit for human habitation. In Asheville, the street homeless receive services from the A HOPE Center’s Outreach Program, the A HOPE Center, and they access meal services at places such as Western Carolina Rescue Ministry or ABCCM. They do not access bed space. This population is difficult to count due to their mobility and secrecy of sleeping places.

Emergency Shelters : Emergency shelters are programs that, at the very least, provide a place to sleep overnight. Many shelters provide services in addition to a place to sleep. The term “emergency” can be misleading. In the beginning, shelters were designed to give someone a place to sleep until they made it over their hump. Today, there are individuals who have lived in emergency shelters for years. Some emergency shelters only serve people who meet their criteria, such as Helpmate (for victims of domestic violence, only), or A Vet’s Place at ABCCM (for veteran’s, only). Others provide services to anyone, such as Room In The Inn (for women), and Salvation Army (for men, women and families).

Transitional Housing : Transitional Houses are programs where individuals or families live, on average, for six months to one year. When homeless housing services are viewed on a continuum, transitional housing is the last stop before achieving independence. Transitional hosing programs are often designed to serve a specific type of homeless person, such as a family who has experience domestic violence, a male in recovery, or a person with a mental illness. Substance abuse ½ Way Houses are considered to be transitional houses. Some level of case management service is typically connected to transitional housing beds. The Flynn Home, Phoenix House and Sojourner House, and Interlace are examples of transitional housing programs.

Treatment Programs, Connected to Emergency Shelter Programs : Treatment programs that are connected to emergency shelter programs are sometimes viewed as emergency shelter and sometimes viewed as transitional hosing. When counting the people in these types of programs, it is important to note where they came from before entering the program. If they met the definition of homeless prior to program entry, they are homeless while they are in the program. If they came from their house to be in the treatment program, they are not homeless.

Other People Who Are Considered Homeless : A) Those who, prior to entry into an institution, lived in any of the above places, but are spending a short time (up to 30 consecutive days in a hospital, treatment center, jail, or other institution). B) A person who is being evicted, within one week, from a private dwelling unit. C) A person who is being discharged from an institution, such as a mental health or substance abuse treatment facility or a jail/prison in which the person has been a resident for more than 30 consecutive days. D) Any person fleeing a domestic violence housing situation. AND: A subsequent residence has not been/can’t be identified and the person lacks the resources and support networks needed to obtain housing.

Other: The federal definition of homelessness does not consider individuals/families who are “doubled up” to be homeless. “Doubled up” homeless are those who are living with someone but they are not the head of household. (An adult woman and her child live with their best friend, Sue. Without the presence of Sue, the woman and her child would be homeless.). This concept negatively impacts the ability to accurately count/report the number of rural homeless individuals/families.

How Many Homeless People Are In Our Community?

There is no easy answer to this question, and in fact, the question itself is misleading. In most cases, homelessness is a temporary circumstance -- not a permanent condition. A more appropriate measure of the magnitude of homelessness is therefore the number of people who experience homelessness over time, not the number of "homeless people." For example, A HOPE Day Center served an average of 170 people per day during 2005 (up from 151 in 2004). However, over the course of the year, the A HOPE Center served over 2,084 individuals—so, are there 170 homeless people in our community or are there 2,084?

One limited measure of the growth in homelessness is the increase in the number of shelter beds over time. A 1991 study examined homelessness "rates" (the number of shelter beds in a city divided by the city's population) in 182 U.S. cities with populations over 100,000.

The study found that homelessness rates tripled between 1981 and 1989 for the 182 cities as a group (Burt, 1997). A 1997 review of research conducted over the past decade (1987-1997) in 11 communities and 4 states found that shelter capacity more than doubled in nine communities and three states during that time period (National Coalition for the Homeless, 1997). In two communities and two states, shelter capacity tripled over the decade.

Point-In-Time Counts: At our best estimate, formal “Point-In-Time” counts conducted by the Asheville-Buncombe Coalition for the Homeless have shown that there are between 500-600 individuals/families in our community at any one point in time.

The last Point in Time Count conducted by the Asheville Buncombe Coalition for the Homeless in July 2006 found 598 (January 2006 – 485) homeless people in our community living on the streets, in shelters and in transitional housing programs. This number breaks down to 406 men, 134 women and 58 children. 199 of this total were people living outdoors (camping), in cars or abandoned building

A new category in 2005 was permanent, supportive housing – with 77 persons counted. This number includes 55 singles (39 men/16 women) and 22 people in families (5men, 9 women and 8 children). Permanent, supportive housing is one solution to the problem of placing chronically homeless persons into housing. A person/family is placed in permanent housing (versus a shelter or transitional housing program) and is supported by a case manager who helps with their needs. This method of housing is proven to be very successful in helping homeless individuals cope with the problems often encountered when finding themselves responsible for living on their own.

Who is homeless in our community?

Over the course of a year, over 2,000 men, women and children access homeless services in Buncombe County.
On one day, we counted over 558 people as homeless in the County, including 50 children. On this same night, over 99 individuals who live in campsites were counted.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, an individual needs to work 67 hours at minimum wage / week to afford the fair market rate 1-bedroom rental apartment in Buncombe County; 55 hours per week to afford an efficiency apartment.
According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, an individual needs to make $8.58 / hour to afford a 1-bedroom fair market rate rental apartment in Buncombe County; $7.10 to afford an efficiency.
There is not a single jurisdiction in our country where a person working a 40-hour week, 52 weeks in a year at the current minimum wage can afford a one-bedroom apartment.
It is estimated that 18 chronic offenders (as identified by the Asheville Police Department) in the downtown area cost community members an estimated $13,000 per year, per individual.

Homeless Sub-Population Information

Young Adults

Nationally, research has shown that the fastest growing subsection of the homeless community (http://www.appliedsurveyresearch.org/homeless-mc.htm)
Military recruitment practices are an influence—Recruitment and acceptance criteria have tightened.
High school drop out rates are an influence
Foster care/ Juvenile justice policies are an influence

Families

Usually 30 – 40% of the homeless community
Usually able to stabilize within a year
Few shelter spots for intact families or men with children
Child care is a huge issue for homeless families
School issues can also be burdensome – not all the children are young
Some families are afraid to ask for help because they’re afraid children will be taken
Slightly easier to get community support for programs serving families

Economically Challenged

Local economy is seasonal and tourist based, which frequently means lower, unstable wages – sometimes without benefits
Asheville has high housing costs compared to wages (fluctuates between 1 st and 2 nd in the highest housing rates in the state)
Displaced workers from factories, etc., are likely to take low-wage jobs, and individuals previous in those low-wage jobs are jobless.

Single Persons

Still the largest sub-population of the homeless community (60-80%)
Predominately male

Mental Illness and Substance Abuse

Most national studies say 40 – 70% have one, the other or both
High rate of access to multiple publicly funded systems and private health care
The longer someone is homeless, the more likely to have a disabling condition contributing to their homelessness (persons without disabling conditions find it easier to move out of homelessness)
50% of homeless persons who do not have a S.A. Issue when they became homeless will develop a S.A. disorder.
State mental health reform may have significant influence on services available

Chronic Homeless

Federal definition of “Chronic Homeless”:
Homeless for more than one year, and have a disabling condition
10% of the persons who experience homelessness over a year’s time
Use 50% of the dollars spent by homeless service agencies
Access publicly funded programs at a high rate

Lesser Known Information about Homeless Persons

System Usage: Nationally, statistics show that 60% of persons experiencing homelessness have already been interacting with other public systems, including

Criminal justice
Hospital
Mental Health residential program
Substance Abuse residential programs
Foster Care
TANF (welfare)
Juvenile justice

Poor Health Care: Many do not have a relationship with a primary care physician. Therefore, there’s a high dependence on emergency room care for all health problems. At A HOPE, an average of 50% of program participants have no relationship with primary care physician or program (including Buncombe County Health Department)

Poor Dental Care: Most have poor dental health. This influences what foods can be eaten (nothing hard or crispy), as well as first impressions, which are important for employment. Also, sometimes there’s intense pain.

Domestic Violence: High rates of domestic violence. Some national surveys state that 70% of homeless women have domestic violence in their history. A NC study suggests similar numbers.

Homeless to Homeless Violence: There is significant violence on the streets – usually homeless on homeless or housed on homeless. Rarely homeless on housed.

Street Coping Skills: Many will develop strong street-coping skills. These same skills do not necessarily transfer well to the housed or job world.

Sleep Deprivation: Sleep deprivation is not uncommon, even among those who are in shelter. Sleep deprivation can contribute to mood swings, irritability, aggression, and psychosis.

Education : Sizeable percentage of unskilled, undereducated persons

Weak Family Systems: Frequently there are weak, dysfunctional family ties

Desire to work: Once in housing, most want to work, even if they have disabilities.

Understanding Income and Fair Market Rents

Each year, HUD issues two formulas: Fair Market Rents (FMR) and Area Median Incomes (AMI). Additionally, the Social Security Administration sets an annual rate for Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI). These terms and numbers are important when talking about homelessness. The numbers help us understand the income gaps and housing affordability.

2005 Fair Market Rents:
Efficiency: $447
One Bedroom: $522

2005 Income:
Median Income – Single Individual: $34,800
Extremely Low Income: $10,450
Low Income: $17,400
Moderate Income: $27,850

According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, a person would have to make $8.60/hr to afford an efficiency apt, $10.04 for a one bedroom.

2006 Monthly SSI Rate: $603.00/month ($7,236/year).

It is also important to note that an individual is considered “rent burdened” or at risk for homelessness if they are paying more than 30% of their income on living expenses (rent, utilities). 30% of SSI income is $180.90.

Why More Homeless Today ?

Over the last four decades, we have seen policy shifts that, combined with changes (good and bad) in the economy, have led to an overall growth in poverty and homelessness.

1960’s – De-institutionalization—Poor people were discharged from the institutions without a place to go.

1970’s & 1980’s – Reduction in HUD Budget—Low-income housing wasn’t being developed and large public housing units were demolished. Those who were turned out of institution had fewer housing options.

1990’s & 2000’s – Zoning, NIMBY, Regentrification—Pushes more poor people out of the housing market.

Federal Fund Eligibility

Asheville receives roughly $1 million per year in federal funds for homeless programs. To continue receiving those funds, there are some new requirements.

All federally funded programs must participate in a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS). This is an un-funded federal mandate. Benefits of this system could include a better analysis of programs and policies and an unduplicated counts of persons served in the community over a period of time

Homeless programs must participate in a coordination process, identifying gaps in service as well as prioritizing new and existing services.

Communities must develop a plan to end chronic homelessness by 2012. There should be a documented 50% reduction in the numbers of chronically homeless persons by 2007.

Who Funds Services to Homeless Persons?

Individuals

Nationally, 80% of nonprofit funding comes from individuals.

Federal Grants

Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) is available to all shelters and transitional houses that have been operating for at least one year. Grants range in size from $5000 - $30,000+. The amount that is available depends on federal appropriations and how many agencies in the state are applying for funds. These are federal funds administered by the state.

Homeless Assistance Funds are available to Asheville in a direct application to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Currently, the way the funding is designed, the only programs eligible for funding are those that have been funded in the past and one new permanent housing project each year. Previously funded programs include Interlace (domestic violence transitional housing), A HOPE (Safe Haven and Day Center), and Shelter Plus Care (permanent housing for persons with mental illness).

Community Development Block Grants(CDBG) are available as federal funds passed through the city. However, there is a cap on how much of these funds can be used for social services which severely reduces the number of homeless service agencies that can apply or be funded. These CDBG funds can be used for several other purposes including housing development and economic development.