Resources: Homeless Count 2011 Findings

Unsheltered Persons

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. Unsheltered persons with mental illness declined by nearly 30% since 2009 (27.8%). In 2011 persons with mental illness comprise 20% of the homeless population.

Since 2009 Alameda County Behavioral Health Care Services (BHCS) has provided more than $4 million per year on short- and long-term housing financial assistance using Mental Health Services Act funds for homeless and at-risk persons living with severe mental illness. In addition BHCS has contributed $4 million in capital funds for recently completed units targeted to this population.

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. Over the past two years, new funding for subsidized housing vouchers through the federal Department of Veteran Affairs enabled 102 homeless veterans to move into permanent housing in Alameda County. Of these, 33 were chronically homeless veterans.  Veterans are 12% of the homeless population, down slightly from 2009.

The total number of chronically homeless single adults increased 9%, from 1026 in 2009 to 1,116 in 2011. Chronically homeless adults are disabled and have been homeless for 12 consecutive months or more, or at least 4 times in the last three years. They constitute 27% of Alameda County’s homeless population; 84% of the chronically homeless are unsheltered. Still, the number of chronically homeless individuals is 11% lower than its highest point of 1,257 in 2007.