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Resources: Homeless Count 2009 Findings


10% less than 2007

Chronic Homelessness Supplement

Disabled, unaccompanied individuals who are living on the streets, in places not meant for human habitation, or in shelters and have been homeless for a year or more or have had four or more episodes of homelessness in the past three years.

  • A reduction in the number of people who are chronically homeless has been occurring since 2005, with a dramatic reduction between 2007 and 2009.
  • Chronically homeless people are 31% of the literally homeless population, up from 25% in 2003.
  • Nearly half of the “street homeless” sleeping outside or in places not meant for habitation are chronically homeless (46%).

CHART: Number of Chronically Homeless People
Chronically Homeless Chart

CHART: Percentage Change of Chronically Homeless People, 2003 – 2009
Chronically Homeless Chart

Regional Data

Click here for a chart of regional populations 2003 – 2009.

Berkeley has seen the largest decrease in the number of chronically homeless disabled individuals – a 48% decrease (253 people)! Click here for more Berkeley information [PDF]. Oakland has also realized a reduction in chronically homeless disabled individuals of 16% or 99 people.

Decreases in Berkeley and Oakland were offset by increases in South and East County(+12) and Mid- and Other-north County (+86).

Reasons for the Decreases

The intensive efforts of new programs to identify engage and serve the chronically homeless combine street outreach and direct access to permanent housing through vouchers funded by the Mental Health Services Act, Federal Shelter + Care, and Berkeley General Fund. For example:

  • Frequent Users Project, focused on high users of emergency health care in North County, includes 21 dedicated vouchers.
  • Full Service Partnerships support 270 vouchers for chronically homeless persons with serious mental illness throughout Alameda County.
  • Square One in Berkeley uses parking meter funds to create 10 housing vouchers.

For information on disability and other subpopulations click here.

Back to the Homeless Count 2009 Findings home

Downloads

Download a PDF of the Information packet from 2009 Homeless Count Data Release