Agenda Packet 5-13-19 Joint Work Session

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2. FOCUS ON SINGLE ADULTS Over 1,300 single adults are experiencing homelessness on any given night in Lane County, accounting for 83 percent of all people experiencing homelessness in the community. During the night of the PIT count, 1,009 of these single adults were in unsheltered locations, comprising 89 percent of the unsheltered population. CHART 3: 2018 PIT SINGLE ADULTS Compared to national data, Lane County has a much higher incidence of homelessness amongst single adults. Nationally, 67 percent of the overall homeless population is single adults and 33 percent are people in families.4 A closer look at this population indicates that many are chronically homeless, have a serious mental illness, a substance use disorder, and/or are Veterans. Lane County’s 2018 PIT count identified 713 people who were chronically homeless, with 112 living in sheltered locations and 601 living in unsheltered locations. Furthermore, data showed that 24 percent of sheltered people and 38 percent of unsheltered people identified as having a serious mental illness (SMI), and 14 percent of sheltered people and 30 percent of unsheltered people had a substance use disorder (SUD). Data indicates that the Lane County unsheltered single adult population is significantly higher than many other similar communities: • Out of 399 CoCs across the country, Lane County ranks as the CoC with the 40th highest number of unsheltered people • Of “Smaller, City, County, and Regional CoCs” across the country, Lane County ranks 6th in the number of chronically homeless single adults 5 • In Lane County, 0.27 percent of the population is unsheltered, as compared to Portland with 0.20 percent, and Seattle with 0.25 percent6 Given the high incidence of homelessness among single adults, many of whom are people with disabilities experiencing chronic homelessness, TAC determined that additional analysis of Lane County’s homeless service system and potential recommendations should focus primarily on addressing single adults. 4 2017 AHAR. 5 2017 AHAR. 6 Based on comparing data in 2017 AHAR and US Census Population Data. 1500 2011 1200 2012 900 2013 600 2014 300 2015 2016 2017 2018 TRANSITIONAL EMERGENCY UNSHELTERED TOTAL0 Chronic Homelessness Definition: HUD defines chronic homelessness as a single adult (or head of household in a family) who has been homeless consistently for at least one year, or who has had four episodes of homelessness over three years, of which episodes total at least 12 months of homelessness. OVERVIEW OF HOMELESS POPULATION IN LANE COUNTY 1480 1435 1369 1257 1227 1214 1249 1365 PAGE 5 May 13, 2019, Joint Work Session – Item 1