Resources: Homeless Count 2011 Findings

This summary highlights the key findings from the 2011 Alameda Countywide Homeless Count and Survey Report, reflects on how recent activities undertaken with the local system of care may have contributed to the results, and discusses implications for future efforts to reduce and end homelessness.

The overall count is down 3.8% with significant reductions in persons living with serious mental illness, veterans, and families.  Intentional and strategic investments of resources such as federal homeless prevention and rapid rehousing (HPRP) funds have achieved promising results. Unfortunately, the data also reveals a growing population of unsheltered single adults, providing our system of care a compelling mandate to find ways to reverse this troubling trend.

[click for more info]	Overall Count The 2011 Homeless Count and Survey estimates that 4,178 people were homeless in Alameda County on a given day in late January 2011. This decrease from the 4,341 estimated count contributes to a 13.6% reduction in the homeless population since January 2007.
[click for more info]	Decreased Family Homelessness, Increased Single Adults The number of persons in homeless households with at least one child decreased by 28%, from 1,570 to 1,139.  The decrease was most significant for unsheltered families - down 67% from 72 families in 2009 to only 24 in 2011.
[click for more info]	Unsheltered Persons The number of unsheltered adults without children increased significantly while the number of unsheltered families dramatically decreased. The number of unsheltered adults without children grew by 34.5%, up from 1,541 in 2009 to 2,072 in 2011. This increase is offset by the reduction of unsheltered families noted above, resulting in a net increase of 13% of unsheltered persons. In 2009 45% of the homeless population consisted of unsheltered persons. The percentage rose to 53% in 2011. The number of unsheltered persons now exceeds those living in emergency shelters and transitional housing combined.

Changes to Sub-populations

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Our efforts to target resources to homeless persons with mental illness are showing remarkable results. 818 homeless persons are living with severe mental illness, a 19% reduction from 1,007 persons in 2009.  Our efforts are also making a difference in reducing homelessness among veterans. 488 homeless persons are veterans, a 13% reduction from 561 persons in 2009. The total number of chronically homeless single adults increased 9%, from 1026 in 2009 to 1,116 in 2011.

Conclusion

Alameda County is committed to using data to plan, implement, evaluate, and refine our service delivery system for homeless and at risk people. The information contained in the 2011 Homeless Count and Survey Report informs not only our understanding, but our actions as we seek to improve outcomes for people who have lost their homes. We will use this information to target resources and refine programs, believing that we can continue to reduce homelessness for families, veterans, and persons living with serious mental illness while simultaneously achieving reductions in the numbers of homeless adults, particularly those who are unsheltered. We will continue to work together to innovate, replicate effective strategies, and maximize the use of our resources.  Together we can and will end homelessness. 

For questions regarding the data or trends in Alameda County, contact Elaine deColigny, Executive Director, at Elaine.decoligny@acgov.org or 510.670.5944.

Policy and System Design Implications
View a list of all Data Tables and Charts

Downloads

Download a PDF of the 2011 Homeless Count Report or the Key Findings only
Answers to Community Questions [PDF]