By: Genevieve Frederick, Founder/President of Feeding Pets of the Homeless
While, I wholeheartedly disagree with the methodology of the “2017 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress”, it is the only national survey that we can get data.
My reasons for disagreement include:
1. One night in January is the date of the assessment and it is ridiculous. Most homeless are out of sight and out of the cold.
2. If you saw people with clipboards walking towards you, would you stick around? Walk in their shoes: I am drunk or high; I am paranoid; I have phobias etc….
3. What if there is a warrant out for your arrest? (Example, a woman who talked with me at a wellness clinic for the homeless last year said she had a warrant out due to lack of a drivers license (expired) and no car insurance (also expired) she gave up her car and was afraid of police or anyone of authority.)
4. The counts occur mostly in large cities that rely on government funding and is mandatory for that funding.
5. Few suburbia’s are included in the count.
6. The question not asked, “Do you have a pet?” Many homeless refuse help because their pets are not welcomed.
The report found that 553,742 persons experienced homelessness on a single night in 2017, an increase of .7 percent since last year. Our emergency caseload has doubled in the last twelve months.
2017 saw a raise in homelessness in New York, NY; Los Angeles and Los Angeles County; Seattle, WA; San Diego and Washington DC due to lack of affordable rental housing. Rents are rising faster than incomes.
Veteran homelessness increased 1.5 percent last year mainly in California cities. Over 5% of our clients are homeless veterans.
Chronic or long-term homelessness increased 12.2 percent. The average time of homelessness of our clients is over 2 ½ years!
In Washington DC – 110 in every 100,000 people were experiencing homeless
In Hawaii – 51 in every 100,000 people were experiencing homeless
In New York – 45 in every 100,000 people were experiencing homeless
In California – 34 in every 100,000 people were experiencing homeless
In Oregon – 34 in every 100,000 people were experiencing homeless
In Washington – 29 in every 100,000 people were experiencing homeless
In Nevada – 27 in every 100,000 people were experiencing homeless
