2011 OC Orange County homeless_report_final

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey Acknowledgements
© Applied Survey Research, 2011 i
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The considerable talents and efforts of many individuals helped to assure the success of this endeavor. The 2011 Orange County Homeless Census and Survey Project Committee, including OC Community Services, OC Partnership, Applied Survey Research, and representatives from over 30 local homeless service provider agencies, would like to thank the many service providers who assisted in the administration of surveys, facilitated the process of homeless peer enumeration by recruiting census enumerators and surveyors, and opened the doors of their facilities to host training sessions, deploy census enumerators, and distribute surveys. The Committee also thanks the dozens of homeless service providers, homeless individuals, and other community members who advised on the locations of homelessness throughout the County, toward the goal of conducting as comprehensive and accurate an enumeration as possible. The Committee thanks the hundreds of community volunteers who participated in the census and survey efforts. Finally, the Committee would like to thank the homeless census and survey workers, as well as the survey respondents, whose efforts are reflected throughout the findings of this report.
Community Partners
211 Orange County
Build Futures
Children's Bureau
Chris Guzman Foundation
Colette's Children's Home
Eli Home, Inc.
Faith Episcopal Church
Friendship Shelter, Inc.
Habitat for Humanity
Heritage Christian Fellowship Church
HomeAid Orange County
Hospital Association of Southern California
Illumination Foundation
Jamboree HOMES, Inc.
Laguna Beach Resource Center
Mercy House
Micah's Way
OC Community Housing Corporation
OC Community Services
OC Head Start, Inc.
OC Partnership
OC Interfaith Shelter
OC Health Care Agency
OC Rescue Mission
Public Law Center
Regional Task Force on the Homeless
Salvation Army
Serving People in Need
Share Our Selves
Southern California Alcohol and Drug Programs, Inc.
Taller San Jose
Toby's House
United Way Orange County
VA Long Beach Healthcare System
Veterans First
Women's Transitional Living Center

Acknowledgements 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey
ii © Applied Survey Research, 2011
Applied Survey Research
Project Director
Peter Connery, Vice President
Project Managers
Ken Ithiphol
Laura Connery
Analysts and Researchers
Susan Brutschy, President
Shary Carvalho
James Connery
John Connery
Natalie Dalton
Samantha Green
Michelle Luedtke
Javier Salcedo
Joanne Sánchez
Street Count Training Sites
Boys & Girls Club
Westminster
Church of Christ
Anaheim
Covenant Presbyterian Church
Orange
San Felipe De Jesus Chapel
Capistrano Beach
Share Our Selves (SOS)
Costa Mesa
Veterans First
Santa Ana
Street Count Deployment Centers
Boys & Girls Club
Westminster
Church of Christ
Anaheim
Micah’s Way Center
Santa Ana
San Felipe De Jesus Chapel
Capistrano Beach
Costa Mesa
South County Outreach
Lake Forest
Survey Training and Distribution Sites
Alternate Sleeping Location, Friendship Shelter
Laguna Beach
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Newport Beach
Micah’s Way Center
Santa Ana
Costa Mesa
Veterans First
Santa Ana

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey Table of Contents
© Applied Survey Research, 2011 iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................................................................ i
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Federal Definition of Homelessness ......................................................................................................................................... 2
Project Purpose and Goals ....................................................................................................................................................... 3
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................................................... 5
Homeless Census Findings .......................................................................................................................................................... 9
Point-in-Time Count ................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Total Population .............................................................................................................................................................. 11
Unsheltered Population ................................................................................................................................................... 12
Sheltered Population ....................................................................................................................................................... 14
Countywide Annual Estimation ............................................................................................................................................... 15
Homeless Survey Findings ......................................................................................................................................................... 17
Demographics ........................................................................................................................................................................ 19
Age .................................................................................................................................................................................. 19
Gender ............................................................................................................................................................................ 19
Race/Ethnicity ................................................................................................................................................................. 20
Primary Causes of Homelessness ......................................................................................................................................... 20
Occurrence and Duration of Homelessness ........................................................................................................................... 21
Occurrence of Homelessness ......................................................................................................................................... 21
Duration of Homelessness .............................................................................................................................................. 22
Living Situation Prior to Becoming Homeless ......................................................................................................................... 23
County Residency ........................................................................................................................................................... 23
Previous Living Arrangements ........................................................................................................................................ 24
Current Living Situation .......................................................................................................................................................... 25
Usual Nighttime Accommodations ................................................................................................................................... 25
Current Living Arrangements .......................................................................................................................................... 26
Social Support Networks ................................................................................................................................................. 27
Obstacles to Obtaining Permanent Housing ........................................................................................................................... 27
Employment and Income ........................................................................................................................................................ 28
Employment Status ......................................................................................................................................................... 29
Barriers to Employment ................................................................................................................................................... 30
Income ............................................................................................................................................................................ 30
Disabling Conditions ............................................................................................................................................................... 31
Physical and Developmental Disabilities ......................................................................................................................... 32
Mental Health .................................................................................................................................................................. 33
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) ......................................................................................................................... 33
Chronic Health Problems ................................................................................................................................................ 34
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Hepatitis C ........................................................................................................................ 34
Substance Abuse ............................................................................................................................................................ 35
Disabling Conditions Among Respondents’ Spouse, Significant Other, or Parent .......................................................... 35
Incarceration ........................................................................................................................................................................... 36
Nights in Jail or Prison ..................................................................................................................................................... 36
Transition from Jail or Prison ........................................................................................................................................... 36
Foster Care ............................................................................................................................................................................ 36

Table of Contents 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey
iv © Applied Survey Research, 2011
Domestic/Partner Violence or Abuse ...................................................................................................................................... 36
Access to Assistance/Services, Homeless Programs, and Medical Care .............................................................................. 37
Access to Government Assistance .................................................................................................................................. 37
Access to Services and Programs ................................................................................................................................... 39
Access to Shelters ........................................................................................................................................................... 39
Access to Food ................................................................................................................................................................ 41
Access to Medical Care ................................................................................................................................................... 41
Use of Technology .................................................................................................................................................................. 42
HUD-Defined Homeless Subpopulations ................................................................................................................................... 45
Chronic Homelessness ........................................................................................................................................................... 48
Homeless Veterans ................................................................................................................................................................ 50
Homeless Families ................................................................................................................................................................. 52
Unaccompanied Homeless Children and Youth ..................................................................................................................... 55
Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................................... 57
Appendix I: Homeless Census & Survey Methodology ........................................................................................................... 59
Appendix II: “Hot Spot” & “Cold” Spot” Identification Form .................................................................................................. 71
Appendix III: Street Census Instrument .................................................................................................................................... 75
Appendix IV: Survey Instrument ................................................................................................................................................ 77
Appendix V: Overall Survey Results .......................................................................................................................................... 81
Appendix VI: Summary for the 2011 Continuum of Care Application ..................................................................................... 97
Appendix VII: Definitions and Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................ 99

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey Table of Figures
© Applied Survey Research, 2011 v
TABLE OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Point-in-Time Homeless Census and Annual Estimate ................................................................................................. 5
Figure 2: Estimated Point-in-Time Homeless Census Population ............................................................................................... 12
Figure 3: Unsheltered Homeless Population, Point-in-Time Count and Point-in-Time Countywide Projection ........................... 13
Figure 4: Sheltered Homeless Population, Point-in-Time Count ................................................................................................. 14
Figure 5: Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Annual Estimate of Homelessness ..................................................................... 16
Figure 6: Survey Respondents by Age ....................................................................................................................................... 19
Figure 7: Survey Respondents by Race/Ethnicity ....................................................................................................................... 20
Figure 8: Primary Event or Condition That Led to Respondents’ Current Episode of Homelessness (Top 5 Responses in 2011) ........................................................................................................................................................................... 21
Figure 9: Number of Times Respondents Had Been Homeless in the Last 12 Months, Including This Present Time ................ 22
Figure 10: Number of Times Respondents Had Been Homeless in the Last 3 Years, Including This Present Time .................... 22
Figure 11: Duration of Current Homeless Episode, 2011 ............................................................................................................. 23
Figure 12: Length of Time Since Last Permanent Housing Situation ............................................................................................ 23
Figure 13: Where Respondents Were Living at the Time They Most Recently Became Homeless .............................................. 24
Figure 14: Living Arrangements Immediately Prior to Becoming Homeless This Time (Top 5 Responses) ................................. 25
Figure 15: Where Respondents Usually Stay At Night ................................................................................................................. 26
Figure 16: Of Respondents Who Reported Not Living Alone, Percentage Who Reported Living With the Following People ....... 27
Figure 17: Circumstances That Were Keeping Respondents From Securing Permanent Housing (Top 5 Responses) .............. 28
Figure 18: Employment Status of Respondents, 2011 .................................................................................................................. 29
Figure 19: Barriers that Were Keeping Unemployed Respondents from Getting Employment, 2011 (Top 5 Responses) ........... 30
Figure 20: Total Monthly Income from All Government Benefits (County, State, or Federal Monies) ........................................... 30
Figure 21: Total Monthly Income from All Non-Government Sources (Job, Panhandling, Recycling, etc.) .................................. 31
Figure 22: Number of Co-occurring Disabling Conditions Among All Homeless Respondents ..................................................... 32
Figure 23: Percentage of Respondents Who Were Currently Experiencing a Physical or Developmental Disability .................... 32
Figure 24: Percentage of Respondents Who Were Currently Experiencing a Mental Illness or Depression ................................ 33
Figure 25: Percentage of Respondents Who Were Currently Experiencing HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, or Hepatitis C ................... 35
Figure 26: Of Respondents Living with a Spouse, Significant Other, or Parent, Percentage Whose Spouse, Significant Other, or Parent Has the Following Disabling Conditions that Prevent Them from Maintaining Work or Housing, 2011 ........... 35
Figure 27: Number of Nights Respondents Reported Spending in Jail/Prison in the Year Prior to the Survey ............................. 36
Figure 28: Respondents Who Were Experiencing Domestic/Partner Violence or Abuse (By Gender) ......................................... 37
Figure 29: Of Those Respondents Receiving Some Form of Government Assistance, Types of Assistance Received (Top 5 Responses in 2011) ..................................................................................................................................................... 38
Figure 30: Reasons for Not Receiving Government Assistance (Top 7 Responses in 2011) ....................................................... 38
Figure 31: Of Those Respondents Utilizing Any Services or Assistance, Types of Services or Assistance Utilized (Top 5 Responses in 2011) ......................................................................................................................................... 39
Figure 32: In the Last 30 Days, Have You Ever Tried to Stay at a Shelter or Transitional Housing Program in Orange County and Been Turned Away? ............................................................................................................................................. 40
Figure 33: Of Respondents Who Tried to Stay at a Shelter or Transitional Housing Facility in the Month Prior to the Survey and Were Turned Away, Reasons They Were Turned Away (Top 5 Responses in 2011) ................................................. 40
Figure 34: Do You Usually Get Enough to Eat on a Daily Basis? ................................................................................................. 41

Table of Figures 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey
vi © Applied Survey Research, 2011
Figure 35: Respondents’ Usual Source of Medical Care (Top 5 Responses) ............................................................................... 42
Figure 36: Number of Times Respondents Used the Emergency Room for Any Treatment in the Last 12 Months ..................... 42
Figure 37: Frequency of Internet Usage, 2011 ............................................................................................................................. 43
Figure 38: Homeless Subpopulation Estimates ............................................................................................................................ 47
Figure 39: Chronically Homeless Subpopulations ........................................................................................................................ 49
Figure 40: Homeless Veteran Subpopulation ............................................................................................................................... 51
Figure 41: Of Veteran Respondents Receiving Veterans Services/Assistance, Type of Veterans Services/Assistance Received, 2011 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 52
Figure 42: Homeless Families with Children Subpopulation ......................................................................................................... 53
Figure 43: Of Respondents with Children (Living with Them or Not), Percentage with Children in the Following Age Groups, 2011 ............................................................................................................................................................................. 54
Figure 44: Of Respondents with Children in the Following Age Groups, Number of Children They Have in those Age Groups .. 55
Figure 45: Unaccompanied Homeless Children and Youth Subpopulations, 2011 ....................................................................... 56

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey Introduction
© Applied Survey Research, 2011 1
INTRODUCTION
Close to two million Americans experience homelessness each year.1
Every other January, communities across the United States conduct comprehensive counts of their homeless population, in order to gain a better understanding of the current homeless population, and to apply for federal funding for homeless programs. The County of Orange worked in conjunction with Applied Survey Research (ASR) to conduct the 2011 Orange County Homeless Census and Survey of unaccompanied homeless adults and children and homeless families. ASR is a non-profit social research organization headquartered in Santa Cruz County, California, with extensive experience in homeless enumeration and research. For most, this is caused by the gap between income and the cost of housing. Yet for many, health conditions, mental health, substance abuse, trauma, and lack of support prevent them from obtaining permanent housing.
The 2011 Orange County Point-in-Time (PIT) Homeless Count was a community-wide effort. Conducted on January 22, 2011, the count and subsequent surveys provided information about the homeless population that is critical to program and service planning, helps to inform the allocation of resources for services to help the homeless, and offers a means of measuring the impact of homeless programs and services. In addition, it is required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as part of a national effort to enumerate the homeless population. All jurisdictions receiving federal funding to provide housing and services for the homeless through the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants are required to conduct a biennial point-in-time count of unsheltered and sheltered homeless persons sometime during the last ten days of January. Currently the County of Orange receives $13.2 million in Homeless Assistance Grant funds. This is a critical source of funding for the County’s homeless services.
Per the guidelines set forth by HUD, the point-in-time count must include all unsheltered homeless persons and sheltered homeless persons staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs on the date(s) of the count. Persons in Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) funded hotel/motel vouchers are counted in the emergency shelter category and persons in families who are housed in programs funded with 2008 Rapid Re-Housing Demonstration (RRHD) grants are counted in the transitional housing category. Communities report the findings of their point-in-time count in their annual application to HUD for federal funding to provide housing and services for the homeless. The compilation of data collected through point-in-time counts across the United States helps the federal government to better understand the nature and extent of homelessness nationwide. An overall summary of Orange County’s homeless population and subpopulations for the 2011 Continuum of Care Application can be found in Appendix VI of this report.
The homeless count had two components: a point-in-time enumeration of unsheltered homeless individuals and families (those sleeping outdoors, on the streets, in parks, vehicles, etc.) and a point-in-
1 The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. (2010). Opening Doors: federal strategic plan to prevent and end homelessness. Washington, DC.

Introduction 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey
2 © Applied Survey Research, 2011
time enumeration of homeless individuals and families who have temporary shelter (those staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing, and those using motel vouchers). The unsheltered street count took place during the early morning of January 22, 2011. In order to capture the number of homeless individuals and families staying in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs, shelter providers in the County completed an online survey, reporting the number of homeless individuals and families who occupied their facility on the night of January 23, 2011. The unsheltered homeless enumeration methodology, developed by ASR in 2001, has been highlighted by HUD in the 2008 Guide to Counting Unsheltered Homeless People and the 2011 Guidance for Point-in-Time Counts of Homeless People.
In addition to the countywide homeless count, a 29-question survey was administered in the weeks following the street count to 794 sheltered and unsheltered homeless individuals. The survey was designed to yield qualitative data about the homeless population in Orange County. A sample of both homeless adults and unaccompanied homeless children and youth completed the survey.
The results presented in this report provide invaluable data regarding the number and characteristics of homeless persons in Orange County, which can help guide countywide efforts to mitigate and end homelessness. This report focuses special attention on specific subpopulations, including: chronically homeless persons and families, homeless veterans, homeless families, and unaccompanied homeless children and youth. These groups have been identified by the federal government as populations of particular interest in the 2011 point-in-time homeless count.
For a complete list of definitions and abbreviations of terms used in this report, please see Appendix VII.
Federal Definition of Homelessness
In this study, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) definition of homelessness was used.2
 An individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and The definition is:
 An individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is:
» A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill),
» An institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or
» A public or private place not designated for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
2 Taken from Title 42, Chapter 119, Subchapter I, §10302(a) of the United States Code of Federal Regulations based on the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey Introduction
Certain homeless individuals are excluded from this definition, including: unsheltered homeless individuals who were “doubled-up” in the homes of family or friends; and sheltered homeless individuals in jails, hospitals, and rehabilitation facilities.
Project Purpose and Goals
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan signed into law the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, providing funding for a range of services to address homelessness. Since 2005, the U.S. Congress has required that local governments receiving federal funds under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act conduct point-in-time counts of their homeless populations every two years. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses information from the local point-in-time counts, among other data sources, in the congressionally-mandated Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress (AHAR). This report is meant to inform Congress about the number of people experiencing homelessness in the United States and the effectiveness of HUD’s programs and policies in decreasing those numbers.
In order to generate accurate and useful data about the local homeless population, the County of Orange and its municipal governments carry out this homeless census and survey. The 2011 Orange County Homeless Census and Survey Project Committee identified several important project goals:
 To preserve current federal funding for homeless services and to enhance the ability to raise new funds;
 To improve the ability of policy makers and service providers to plan and implement services that meet the needs of the local homeless population;
 To measure changes in the numbers and characteristics of the homeless population over time, and to track progress toward ending homelessness;
 To increase public awareness of overall homeless issues and generate support for constructive solutions; and
 To assess the status of the chronically homeless, homeless veterans, homeless families, and unaccompanied homeless children under the age of 18.
The results of this research will assist service providers, policy makers, funders, and local, state, and federal governments to better understand and plan for the needs of the homeless population by examining current statistics in various geographical contexts. It is hoped that the 2011 Orange County Homeless Census and Survey will help policy makers and service providers to more effectively develop services and programs to serve the County’s homeless population.

Introduction 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey Executive Summary
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In conjunction with Applied Survey Research, OC Community Services and OC Partnership conducted the 2011 Orange County Point-in-Time Homeless Census and Survey. The 2011 homeless census was performed using the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recommended practices for counting homeless individuals. This study included a comprehensive enumeration of homeless individuals residing in Orange County on January 22, 2011. In order to generate detailed profiles of homeless individuals in Orange County, 794 surveys of homeless individuals were conducted in the weeks following the census. Data from this representative survey sample revealed more detailed information about the population. The research design relied on self-described and self-defined responses, which is an approved method in homeless research due to the limitations in connecting homeless individuals to their clinical profiles.
2011 Homeless Census and Survey Findings
There was a 17% decrease in the number of homeless individuals counted in the 2011 Homeless Census from 2009.
 6,939 homeless individuals were estimated during the 2011 point-in-time count.
 It is estimated that 18,325 unduplicated persons experience homelessness annually in Orange County.
» Based on the United States Census 2010 population profile, this annual estimate of homelessness represented approximately 0.6% of Orange County’s total population of 3,010,232 people.3
Figure 1: Point-in-Time Homeless Census and Annual Estimate
2009
2011
09-11
Number
Percent
Number
Percent
Net Change
Percent Change
Unsheltered projection
5,724
68.7%
4,272
61.6%
-1,452
-25.4%
Shelter enumeration
2,609
31.3%
2,667
38.4%
58
2.2%
Total count
8,333
100.0%
6,939
100.0%
-1,394
-16.7%
Annual estimate
21,479
-
18,325
-
-3,154
-14.7%
Source: Applied Survey Research. (2009). 2009 Orange County Homeless Census and Survey. Applied Survey Research. (2011). 2011 Orange County Homeless Census and Survey.
The majority of homeless individuals in Orange County were white males between the ages of 31 and 60.
 63% of homeless survey respondents were male and 37% were female.
3 United States Census Bureau, United States Census 2010, 2011.

Executive Summary 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey
 62% of survey respondents were White/Caucasian, 21% were Hispanic/Latino, and 11% were Black/ African American.
 77% of respondents were between 31-60 years old.
 Over three-quarters (77%) of respondents were living in Orange County when they most recently became homeless.
Nearly two-thirds of homeless persons in Orange County were unsheltered.
 62% of those counted in the census were unsheltered (4,272 individuals) and 38% (2,667 individuals) were in shelter facilities, including emergency shelters, transitional housing programs, and motel voucher programs.
Job loss and substance use were the top two causes of homelessness.
 39% of respondents cited job loss as the primary reason for their current episode of homelessness.
 17% cited alcohol/drug use as the primary reason for their homelessness.
55% of respondents indicated this was the first time they had experienced homelessness.
 49% of respondents had been homeless for less than a year.
 83% indicated that they were homeless only one time in the past year.
Over half (57%) of respondents said that they had a disabling condition in 2011, which is down from 99% in 2009.4
 24% had a physical disability in 2011.
 20% had a mental illness.
 25% were experiencing chronic health problems.
 33% were currently using alcohol and/or other drugs.
63% of respondents indicated they were receiving some form of government assistance.
 Of respondents receiving government assistance, 73% were receiving Food Stamps, 25% were receiving Medi-Cal/Medi-Care, and 15% were receiving MSI (Medical Services Initiative).
 53% of respondents were receiving money from government benefits.
 47% were receiving money from private, non-government sources.
 21% of respondents reported receiving not receiving any income whatsoever.
4 For the purposes of this study, a disabling condition was defined as a physical or developmental disability, mental illness, severe depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic health problems, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis C, or substance abuse.

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey Executive Summary
HUD-Defined Homeless Subpopulations
Chronic Homelessness
 Approximately 24% of all homeless people in Orange County were chronically homeless.
 It is estimated that on any given day, Orange County has a chronically homeless population of approximately 1,651 persons. This represents a 56% decrease from 3,783 chronically homeless individuals in 2009.
 In 2011, HUD extended the definition of chronic homelessness to include families and 19 individuals were found to be in chronically homeless families.
Homeless Veterans
 In 2011, HUD and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) agreed to use the HUD PIT count as the definitive federal estimate of veteran homelessness.
 It is estimated that on any given day, Orange County has a homeless veteran population of approximately 856 persons. This represents 12% of the total point-in-time population, and a 33% decrease from 1,282 homeless veterans in 2009.
» 89% of homeless veterans were unsheltered in 2011.
Homeless Families with Children
 Data from the homeless count showed that a total of 574 homeless families with children under 18 years of age were identified in 2011, a 19% increase from 481 homeless families in 2009.
 The number of persons in families with children in Orange County increased by 24% (from 1,377 persons in 2009 to 1,708 persons in 2011).
Unaccompanied Homeless Children and Youth
 Overall, 54 unaccompanied homeless children (under 18) and 215 unaccompanied homeless youth (18-24) were enumerated in the 2011 point-in-time count.
 Of these unaccompanied homeless children and youth, the majority (85%) were unsheltered.
Conclusion
The homeless count and survey provided valid and useful data which helped create a more comprehensive picture of those experiencing homelessness in Orange County in 2011. The 2011 point-in-time homeless count, however, should be considered conservative since it is well known that even with the most thorough methodology, many homeless individuals stay in locations where they cannot be seen or counted by enumeration teams. Further, many women, families, and children and youth try to remain hidden for safety.

Executive Summary 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey Homeless Census Findings
HOMELESS CENSUS FINDINGS

Homeless Census Findings 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey

HOMELESS CENSUS FINDINGS
The following section presents the results from the homeless census component of the project. In accordance to the guidelines set forth by HUD, the point-in-time count included an enumeration of unsheltered and sheltered homeless persons. The point-in-time street count was conducted on January 22, 2011, from approximately 5:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., during which census enumerators canvassed a sample of 150 U.S. Census Tracts in Orange County. The number of homeless persons counted in these 150 tracts was then used to make a countywide projection. In addition, the number of homeless persons occupying emergency shelters and transitional housing facilities was enumerated by shelter staff on the night of January 21, 2011.
Due to the similar research methodology used in 2009 and 2011, results for these two years are directly comparable. For a detailed explanation of the methodology used for the 2011 Orange County Homeless Census, please refer to Appendix I. A copy of the “hot spot” identification form can be found in Appendix II and a copy of the street census instrument can be found in Appendix III.
Point-in-Time Count
Total Population
 A total of 6,939 homeless persons were estimated to be living in Orange County on January 22, 2011.
» 62% (4,272 persons) were unsheltered. This unsheltered population was projected from a total of 1,626 unsheltered persons counted in the point-in-time sample enumeration of 150 census tracts. This included individuals living on the streets and in cars, vans, RVs, abandoned buildings, and encampments.
» 38% (2,667 persons) were enumerated in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs.5
 Single individuals (5,231) made up 75% of the point-in-time homeless population, while persons in families (1,708) made up 25%.
» Persons in families made up less than 1% of the unsheltered homeless population (22), and 63% of the sheltered population (1,686).
» A total of 574 family units were identified during the homeless count (7 families unsheltered, 174 families sheltered in emergency shelters, and 393 families sheltered in transitional housing facilities).
 84% of the point-in-time homeless population (5,834) were adults over the age of 18 and 16% (1,105) were children under 18 years of age.
5 No homeless persons were enumerated in safe havens as there were no safe haven programs in Orange County.

Figure 2: Estimated Point-in-Time Homeless Census Population
Source: Applied Survey Research. (2009). 2009 Orange County Homeless Census. Applied Survey Research. (2011). 2011 Orange County Homeless Census.
Unsheltered Population
 On January 22, 2011, a total of 1,626 unsheltered homeless persons were counted during the point- in-time street enumeration of 150 Orange County census tracts. This point-in-time count projected to a countywide unsheltered homeless population of 4,271 unsheltered persons.
» Compared to the 2009, the projected countywide unsheltered homeless population decreased by 25% (representing a decrease of 1,453 unsheltered persons).
 609 persons were estimated to be occupying the cars, vans/RVs, abandoned buildings, and encampments that were counted during the street count.6
» This estimation was based on 46 cars, 154 vans/RVs, 6 abandoned buildings, and 69 encampments visually observed during the street enumeration for which the number of occupants could not be determined.
 Of the projected point-in-time countywide unsheltered homeless population:
» 84% were single adult males,
6 The number of individuals enumerated in cars, vans, RVs, abandoned buildings, and encampments are estimates based on empirical data from the 2011 homeless survey. During the street count, when the exact number of homeless individuals could not be identified due to the setting of their sleeping locations (e.g., in vehicles, abandoned buildings, and encampments) but there was evidence of homeless occupants residing in these settings, census enumerators kept tallies of vehicles, abandoned buildings, and encampments. Enumeration teams did this only when both team members agreed that there were in fact homeless occupants present. Recognized by HUD as an acceptable practice, an “adjustment value” was then applied to estimate the number of individuals occupying vehicles, abandoned buildings, and encampments. These “adjustment values” were derived from the 2011 homeless survey, which asked survey respondents living in cars, vans, RVs, abandoned buildings, and encampments to report the number of people usually stay there. The results of these questions produced average number of people or “adjustment value” for each of these sleeping locations, which were: 1.51 for cars, 1.86 for vans/RVs, 3.98 for abandoned buildings, and 3.13 for encampments units.
8,333
5,724
2,609
6,939
4,272
2,667
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
Total
Unsheltered
Sheltered
2009
2011

» 16% were single adult females,
» Less than 1% were unaccompanied children under 18, and
» Less than 1% were persons in families (22 persons in 7 family units).
Figure 3: Unsheltered Homeless Population, Point-in-Time Count and Point-in-Time Countywide Projection
Point-in-Time Count
Point-in-Time Countywide Projection
2009
2011
2009
2011
Net Change
Percent Change
Single individuals
1,898
1,012
5,643
4,250
-1393
-24.7%
Adult males
1,399
798
4,716
3,574
-1,142
-24.2%
Adult females
268
148
903
663
-240
-26.6%
Adults of undetermined gender*
224
63
-
-
-
-
Unaccompanied children under 18
7
3
24
13
-11
-45.8%
Persons in families
24
5
81
22
-59
-72.8%
Adult male
5
0
17
0
-17
-100.0%
Adult female
7
2
24
9
-15
-62.5%
Children under 18
12
3
40
13
-27
-67.5%
Number of families
8
2
27
7
-20
-74.1%
Persons in parks, vehicles, abandoned buildings, & encampments
572
609
-
-
-
-
Persons in parks
18
0
-
-
-
-
Cars
Persons in cars
109
76
-
-
-
-
Number of cars
84
46
-
-
-
-
Vans/RVs
Persons in vans/RVs
248
293
-
-
-
-
Number of vans/RVs
123
154
-
-
-
-
Abandoned buildings
-
-
-
Persons in abandoned buildings
44
24
-
-
-
-
Number of abandoned buildings
19
6
-
-
-
-
Encampments
-
-
-
Persons in encampments
153
216
-
-
-
-
Number of encampments
39
69
-
-
-
-
Total
2,494
1,626
5,724
4,272
-1,452
-25.4%

Sheltered Population
 A total of 2,667 homeless persons were enumerated in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs in Orange County on the night of January 21, 2011.7
» This represents a 2% increase from the 2009 point-in-time sheltered homeless population of 2,609 individuals.
 Of the point-in-time sheltered homeless population:
» 35% were occupying in emergency shelters and 65% were living in transitional housing programs.
 Based on the 2011 Orange County Housing Inventory Chart, of all available emergency shelter and transitional housing beds, 34% were emergency shelter beds and 66% were transitional housing beds.
» 22% were single adult males,
» 12% were single adult females,
» 2% were unaccompanied children under 18, and
» 63% were persons in families (1,686 persons in 567 family units).
Figure 4: Sheltered Homeless Population, Point-in-Time Count
Jurisdiction
Emergency Shelter
Transitional Housing
Total
2009
2011
2009
2011
2009
2011
Net Change
Percent Change
Single individuals
689
462
499
519
1,188
981
-207
-17.4%
Adult males
466
329
293
268
759
597
-162
-21.3%
Adult females
194
112
189
217
383
329
-54
-14.1%
Adults of undetermined gender
29
0
17
14
46
14
-32
-69.6%
Unaccompanied children under 18
85
21
40
20
125
41
-84
-67.2%
Persons in families
188
479
1,108
1,207
1,296
1,686
390
30.1%
Adults*
75
174
453
474
528
648
120
22.7%
Children under 18
113
305
655
733
768
1,038
270
35.2%
Number of families
70
174
384
393
454
567
113
24.9%
Total
962
941
1,647
1,726
2,609
2,667
58
2.2%
* The gender of sheltered adults in families was not specified in the online shelter count survey.
7 No homeless persons were enumerated in safe havens as there were no safe haven programs in Orange County.

Countywide Annual Estimation
A point-in-time (PIT) homeless enumeration has an inherent bias of not capturing homeless persons who experience short episodes of homelessness during other times of the year. More people experience homelessness annually than can be counted at any given point in time, as people cycle in and out of homelessness. For example, someone may be homeless between February and May, and another person may become homeless between October and January. Counting only the homeless person found in a January homeless count could under-represent the experience of the homeless person in the February to May timeline. Therefore, based on the survey results from the 2011 Orange County Homeless Census and Survey, ASR used the annualization formula detailed by the Corporation for Supportive Housing to calculate an annual estimate of the number of homeless persons in Orange County over the course of a year. This approach is the HUD-approved method for calculating the annual estimate of homeless persons based on the point-in-time count. The following is an explanation of the annualization calculation.
Three factors were used to determine the annual estimate:8
 A = The point-in-time count of currently homeless people (found in the street and shelter count)
 B = The number of currently homeless people who became homeless within the last 7 days; and
 C = The proportion of currently homeless people who have experienced a previous homeless episode within the past 12 months.
The equation for calculating the annual estimate is: A + [(B*51)*(1 – C)] = Annual estimate
 For Orange County in 2011: 6,939 + [(270.621*51)*(1 – 0.175)] = 18,325.379 ≈ 18,325 persons
 For Orange County in 2009: 8,333 + [(308.321*51)*(1 – 0.164)] = 21,478.574 ≈ 21,479 persons
 The 2011 annual estimate for the unduplicated number of homeless people in Orange County was 18,325 persons, which represents a 15% decrease (or a decrease of 3,154 persons) from the 2009 annual estimate of 21,479 persons.
» This decrease is primarily due to the decrease in the point-in-time count population (a decrease of 1,394 homeless persons) and a decrease in the number of newly homeless individuals.
 Based on the United States Census 2010 population profile, the 2011 annual estimate of homelessness represented approximately 0.6% of Orange County’s total population of 3,010,232 people.9
8 Burt, Martha and Wilkins, Carol. Estimating the Need: Projecting from Point-in-Time to Annual Estimates of the Number of Homeless People in a Community and Using this Information to Plan for Permanent Supportive Housing. Corporation for Supportive Housing. March 2005.
9 United Census Bureau, United States Census 2010, 2011.

Figure 5: Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Annual Estimate of Homelessness
2009
2011
09-11
Net Change
Percent Change
Point-in-time count
8,333
6,939
-1,394
-16.7%
Annual estimate
21,479
18,325
-3,154
-14.7%
Total population
2,988,407 (2005-2007)
3,010,232 (2010)
21,825
0.7%
Point-in-time to annual multiplier
2.58
2.64
0.06
-
Percentage of total population
0.7%
0.6%
-0.1
-

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey Homeless Survey Findings
HOMELESS SURVEY FINDINGS

Homeless Survey Findings 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey

HOMELESS SURVEY FINDINGS
All qualitative data about homelessness in this report were derived from direct surveys of a sample of homeless persons in Orange County. The following section provides an overview of the results generated from the 2011 Orange County Homeless Survey. Please note that missing values (i.e., questions to which survey respondents did not provide answers) have been intentionally omitted from the survey results. In addition, some questions were asked only of a subset of the respondents, based on their response to a prior question. Therefore, the total number of survey respondents for each question will not necessarily equal to the total number of surveys administered (794).
Additional information regarding the Orange County Homeless Survey can be found in the appendices, including: the survey instrument (Appendix IV) and the overall survey results (Appendix V).
Demographics
In order to measure the diversity of homeless population living in Orange County, respondents were asked several demographic questions pertaining to their age, gender, ethnicity, and family status.
Age
 The majority (61%) of 2011 survey respondents were over the age of 40.
Figure 6: Survey Respondents by Age
N: 2009=768, 2011=791.
Source: Applied Survey Research. (2009). 2009 Orange County Homeless Survey. Applied Survey Research. (2011). 2011 Orange County Homeless Survey.
Gender
 63% of 2011 respondents identified themselves as male and 37% identified as female.
» 2 respondents identified as transgender and 3 respondents identified as other.
4.2%
24.4%
32.2%
20.7%
13.9%
4.6%
0.0%
4.8%
22.7%
33.7%
22.0%
13.8%
2.9%
0.1%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
61+ years old
51-60 years old
41-50 years old
31-40 years old
22-30 years old
18-21 years old
<18 years old
2009
2011

Race/Ethnicity
 The three largest racial/ethnic groups among 2011 survey respondents were: White/Caucasian (62%), Hispanic/Latino (21%), and Black/African American (11%).
» Compared to Orange County’s general population, there were greater percentages of Whites/Caucasians and Blacks/African Americans in the 2011 homeless survey population, and a lower percentage of Hispanics/Latinos.10
Figure 7: Survey Respondents by Race/Ethnicity
N: 2009 Homeless Survey Population=786, 2011 Homeless Survey Population=794, 2010 Orange County General Population=3,010,232.
Source: Applied Survey Research. (2009). 2009 Orange County Homeless Survey. Applied Survey Research. (2011). 2011 Orange County Homeless Survey. United States Census Bureau, United States Census 2010, 2011.
Primary Causes of Homelessness
 The most commonly cited cause of homelessness among survey respondents in 2009 and 2011 was job loss (30% and 39%, respectively).
 17% cited alcohol or drug use as the primary cause of their homelessness in 2011; compared to 18% in 2009.
10 United States Census Bureau, United States Census 2010, 2011.
56.2%
21.0%
10.6%
2.3%
3.7%
6.2%
61.7%
21.0%
11.0%
0.8%
3.3%
2.3%
44.1%
33.7%
1.5%
0.2%
18.0%
2.6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
White/Caucasian
Hispanic/Latino
Black/African American
American Indian/Alaskan Native
Asian/Pacific Islander
Other/Multi-ethnic
2009 Homeless Survey Population
2011 Homeless Survey Population
2010 Orange County General Population

Figure 8: Primary Event or Condition That Led to Respondents’ Current Episode of Homelessness (Top 5 Responses in 2011)
N: 2009=782, 2011=788.
Occurrence and Duration of Homelessness
While many respondents were experiencing homelessness for the first time, or had been homeless for just a few months, others had been homeless repeatedly or for extended periods of time. The economic crisis seems to have made it more difficult for those who had previously been homeless to remain stably housed.
Occurrence of Homelessness
 From 2009 to 2011, the percentage of respondents who indicated that this was the first time they had been homeless decreased slightly from 58% to 55%.
 When asked about the occurrence of homelessness in the last 12 months, 83% of 2011 respondents indicated that they experienced only one episode of homelessness in the last 12 months (including this present time), compared to 84% of 2009 respondents.
 When asked about the occurrence of homelessness in the last 3 years, 11% of 2011 respondents indicated that they experienced four or more episodes of homelessness in the last 3 years (including this present time), compared to 13% of 2009 respondents.
» This is one of the components used to determine whether a person or family can be considered chronically homeless (see Chronic Homelessness section).
5.7%
6.6%
9.0%
16.6%
38.8%
7.9%
5.4%
4.1%
18.2%
30.2%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Divorced or separated
Family/domestic violence
Argument with family/friend
Alcohol/drug use
Lost job
2009
2011

Figure 9: Number of Times Respondents Had Been Homeless in the Last 12 Months, Including This Present Time
N: 2009=785, 2011=794.
Figure 10: Number of Times Respondents Had Been Homeless in the Last 3 Years, Including This Present Time
N: 2009=785, 2011=794.
Duration of Homelessness
 Over half (51%) of 2011 respondents had been homeless for a year or more this present time.
» This is one of the components used to determine whether a person or family can be considered chronically homeless (see Chronic Homelessness section).
 When asked how long it had been since they last lived in a permanent housing situation, over one- third (34%) of 2011 respondents indicated it had been two or more years, compared to 36% of 2009 respondents
83.6%
9.7%
3.2%
1.5%
0.5%
0.4%
1.1%
82.5%
8.1%
2.6%
0.4%
0.6%
1.3%
4.5%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1 time
2 times
3 times
4 times
5 times
6 times
> 6 times
2009
2011
70.2%
10.8%
6.5%
3.6%
2.5%
1.8%
4.6%
68.9%
14.9%
5.2%
1.8%
1.3%
1.0%
7.1%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
1 time
2 times
3 times
4 times
5 times
6 times
> 6 times
2009
2011

Figure 11: Duration of Current Homeless Episode, 2011
N: 2011=787.
Source: Applied Survey Research. (2011). 2011 Orange County Homeless Survey.
Note: This question was added in 2011; therefore, 2009 data is not available.
Figure 12: Length of Time Since Last Permanent Housing Situation
N: 2009=784 2011=793.
Living Situation Prior to Becoming Homeless
County Residency
 In 2011, the majority (77%) of respondents indicated they were living in Orange County at the time they most recently became homeless. This is compared to 73% in 2009.
 Of respondents who were living in Orange County when they most recently became homeless:
» The large majority (89%) had been living in Orange County for 3 or more years before they became homeless. This was an increase from 86% in 2009.
4.8%
3.3%
27.1%
13.6%
10.5%
40.7%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
≤ 7 days
8-30 days
1-6 months
7-11 months
1 year
> 1 year
3.7%
5.7%
24.1%
10.8%
5.2%
14.2%
8.7%
27.6%
1.4%
3.8%
18.5%
12.1%
7.1%
23.0%
11.3%
22.8%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
≤ 7 days
8-30 days
2-6 months
7-11 months
1 year
1-2 years
2-3 years
> 3 years
2009
2011

Figure 13: Where Respondents Were Living at the Time They Most Recently Became Homeless
N: 2009=785, 2011=794.
Previous Living Arrangements
 45% of respondents indicated they were renting a home or apartment immediately prior to becoming homeless this last time. This is compared to 40% of respondents in 2009.
 The percentage of individuals living with relatives or friends increased from 20% to 27% between 2009 and 2011.
 10% reported that they were living in a home that they or their partner owned in 2011, compared to 11% in 2009.
0.6%
5.2%
2.4%
1.1%
2.5%
4.4%
6.7%
77.1%
1.1%
5.7%
3.3%
3.4%
2.2%
2.5%
8.9%
72.7%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Out of country
Out of state
Other county in California
San Bernardino County
San Diego County
Riverside County
Los Angeles County
Orange County
2009
2011

Figure 14: Living Arrangements Immediately Prior to Becoming Homeless This Time (Top 5 Responses)
N: 2009=783, 2011=792.
Current Living Situation
Usual Nighttime Accommodations
 When asked where they usually stay at night since they became homeless, nearly half (47%) of respondents reported usually staying outdoors, on the streets, in parks in 2011. This is an increase from 34% in 2009.
 25% indicated that they usually stay at an emergency shelter, transitional housing facility, or another type of shelter in 2011, which is a decrease from 35% in 2009.
 10% reported usually staying in an automobile, van, or camper/RV in 2009 and 2011.
6.8%
10.4%
11.7%
15.2%
44.9%
9.2%
11.4%
8.2%
12.1%
40.4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
In a motel/hotel
In a home owned by you/your partner
With friends
With relatives
In a rented home/apartment
2009
2011

Figure 15: Where Respondents Usually Stay At Night
N: 2009=785, 2011=794.
* This includes: a place in a house not normally used for sleeping (kitchen, living room, etc.), unconverted garage/attic/basement, a backyard or storage structure, or an abandoned building.
** This includes: train station, bus depot, transit center, etc.
Current Living Arrangements
 70% of respondents reported that they live alone (by themselves) in 2011, compared to 57% in 2009.
 Of respondents who reported not living alone:11
» 47% reported living with children,
» 21% reported living with their spouse or significant other, and
» 14% reported living with their street family.
11 These responses were not mutually exclusive.
2.8%
1.9%
3.8%
7.3%
10.1%
25.3%
48.9%
1.3%
0.8%
5.4%
11.0%
10.4%
34.6%
36.6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Other
Public facilities**
Motel/hotel
A structure or indoor area not normally used for sleeping*
Vehicle (car, van, camper/RV)
Emergency, transitional, or other shelter
Outdoors/streets/parks/encampments
2009
2011

Figure 16: Of Respondents Who Reported Not Living Alone, Percentage Who Reported Living With the Following People
N: 2009=Multiple response question with 340 respondents offering 399 responses. 2011=Multiple response question with 234 respondents offering 289 responses.
Note: These responses were not mutually exclusive.
* “Street family” was added as a response option in 2011; therefore, 2009 data is not available.
Social Support Networks
 38% of respondents indicated in 2011 that they have a friends/family support network in Orange County, which is down from 45% in 2009.
Obstacles to Obtaining Permanent Housing
 75% of respondents cited unemployment or no income as an obstacle to obtaining housing, compared to 59% of 2009 respondents.
 71% indicated that not being able to afford rent was keeping them from securing permanent housing, compared to 65% in 2009.
24.8%
2.1%
2.1%
12.8%
13.7%
21.4%
46.6%
20.9%
4.4%
0.3%
20.9%
32.4%
38.5%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Other
Other family member(s)
Parent or legal guardian
Friend(s)
Street family*
Spouse or significant other
Child(ren)
2009
2011

Figure 17: Circumstances That Were Keeping Respondents From Securing Permanent Housing (Top 5 Responses)
N: 2009=Multiple response question with 755 respondents offering 2,101 responses; 2011=Multiple response question with 788 respondents offering 2,301 responses.
Employment and Income
The 2011 United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Federal Poverty Level for one person is approximately $908 per month.12
However, the local self-sufficiency standard is a more realistic measure of the true cost of living. The self- sufficiency standard is a measure of income adequacy that calculates how much income working adults need to meet their family’s basic needs without subsidies. While the FPL for one person is approximately $908 per month, the self-sufficiency standard for a single person in Orange County is $2,681 per month. Income from government sources is excluded from this calculation because the HHS Federal Poverty Levels do not consider non-cash government benefits (such as Food Stamps or housing subsidies) as income when determining the poverty levels for each fiscal year.
13
As shown previously, a lack of income – whether from the loss of a job, being unable to find a job, or due to other reasons – has a great impact on people becoming homeless in Orange County. While some respondents were able to earn income from employment, others were receiving income from sources such as public assistance or disability benefits. However, many respondents were receiving little or no income from either government or private sources.
12 United States Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Register, Vol. 76, No. 13, 2011 HHS Poverty Guidelines January 20, 2011, p. 3637-3638.
13 Wider Opportunities for Women and Californians for Family Economic Self-Sufficiency (CFESS) and Equal Rights Advocates, 2009.
25.8%
32.7%
46.2%
70.7%
75.3%
27.4%
23.8%
50.1%
64.9%
58.7%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Bad credit
No transportation
No money for moving costs
Can't afford rent
No job/no income
2009
2011

Employment Status
 76% of respondents indicated that they were unemployed at the time of the survey in 2011.
» In comparison, the unemployment rate for the overall population of Orange County was 9% during February 2011.14
Figure 18: Employment Status of Respondents, 2011
N: 2011=790.
Note: New response options were added in 2011; therefore, 2009 data is not comparable.
14 State of California Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information Division, 2011.
0.0%
0.5%
6.0%
8.0%
1.5%
0.5%
0.0%
13.4%
70.1%
0.3%
2.7%
1.5%
1.0%
3.6%
5.1%
5.9%
1.4%
78.4%
0.3%
2.2%
2.7%
2.8%
3.0%
3.9%
4.4%
4.4%
76.3%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Migrant worker
Seasonal/temporary worker
Employed part-time
Student
Self-employed
Retired
Day laborer
Employed full-time
Unemployed
2011 Overall
2011 Unsheltered
2011 Sheltered

Barriers to Employment
 43% of unemployed respondents cited not having transportation as a barrier to employment in 2011.
Figure 19: Barriers that Were Keeping Unemployed Respondents from Getting Employment, 2011 (Top 5 Responses)
N: 2011=Multiple response question with 578 respondents offering 2,348 responses.
Note: This question was rephrased in 2011; therefore, 2009 data is not comparable.
Income
 The percentage of respondents who indicated that they were receiving money from government benefits increased from 39% in 2009 to 53% in 2011.
 The percentage of respondents who indicated that they were receiving money from private, non- government sources decreased from 63% in 2009 to 47% in 2011.
 21% of 2011 respondents reported having no income whatsoever.
Figure 20: Total Monthly Income from All Government Benefits (County, State, or Federal Monies)
N: 2009=765, 2011=784.
37.7%
39.6%
40.1%
40.1%
42.6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
No permanent address
Need clothing
No jobs
No phone
No transportation
61.4%
5.4%
9.7%
5.5%
13.5%
4.6%
47.4%
1.4%
24.5%
7.9%
13.8%
5.0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
$0
$1-$150
$151-250
$251-500
$501-$1,000
> $1,000
2009
2011

Figure 21: Total Monthly Income from All Non-Government Sources (Job, Panhandling, Recycling, etc.)
N: 2009=767, 2011=781.
Disabling Conditions
For the purposes of this study, a disabling condition was defined as a physical or developmental disability, mental illness, severe depression,15 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic health problems, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis C, or substance abuse.16
 Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of survey respondents with one or more self-defined disabling condition decreased from 99% to 57%.
17
» The existence of a disabling condition is one of the components used to determine whether a person or family can be considered chronically homeless (see Chronic Homelessness section).
15 Severe depression includes those who reported that they were experiencing depression and that their depression prevents them from getting work or housing.
16 In 2011, two new disabling conditions were included (Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C) and the depression disabling condition was adjusted to include severe depression only (those who reported that they were experiencing depression and that their depression prevents them from getting work or housing).
17 In 2011, two new disabling conditions were included (Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C) and the depression disabling condition was adjusted to include severe depression only (those who reported that they were experiencing depression and that their depression prevents them from getting work or housing).
37.5%
22.4%
9.1%
11.3%
8.9%
10.7%
52.6%
19.5%
11.3%
7.9%
3.8%
4.9%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
$0
$1-$150
$151-250
$251-500
$501-$1,000
> $1,000
2009
2011

Figure 22: Number of Co-occurring Disabling Conditions Among All Homeless Respondents
N: 2009=787, 2011=794.
Physical and Developmental Disabilities
 Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of respondents with a physical disability decreased (from 28% to 24%), while the percentage of respondents with a developmental disability stayed the same (at 9%).
» Of respondents who reported having a physical disability in 2011, 83% indicated that their physical disability prevents them from getting work or housing.
» Of respondents with a developmental disability in 2011, 94% indicated that their developmental disability prevents them from getting work or housing.
Figure 23: Percentage of Respondents Who Were Currently Experiencing a Physical or Developmental Disability
2009 N: Physical disability=767, developmental Disability=764.
2011 N: Physical disability=741, developmental Disability=736.
1.1%
2.8%
28.5%
22.2%
18.4%
14.1%
12.8%
42.6%
20.2%
13.9%
9.3%
4.5%
4.2%
5.4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
None
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six or more
2009
2011
27.6%
8.5%
23.8%
9.0%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Physical disability
Developmental disability
2009
2011

Mental Health
National studies have found that a disproportionate number of homeless persons suffer from some form of mental illness.18
 Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of respondents who reported experiencing a mental illness decreased (from 26% to 20%) and the percentage of respondents who reported experiencing depression also decreased (from 51% to 42%). The 2011 homeless survey asked survey respondents about their mental health, including mental illness and depression.
» In 2011, 21% of respondents reported experiencing severe depression. 19
» Of respondents who reported experiencing a mental illness in 2011, 79% indicated that their mental illness prevents them from getting work or housing.
» Of respondents who reported experiencing depression in 2011, 53% indicated that their depression prevents them from getting work or housing.
 30% of respondents reported experiencing mental illness and/or severe depression in 2011.
Figure 24: Percentage of Respondents Who Were Currently Experiencing a Mental Illness or Depression
2009 N: Mental illness=769, Depression=768.
2011 N: Mental illness=729, Depression=765.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is an anxiety disorder that can occur following the experience or witnessing of a traumatic event. A traumatic event is a life-threatening event such as military combat, natural disasters, terrorist incidents, serious accidents, or physical or sexual assault in adulthood or childhood.20
18 National Coalition for the Homeless, Mental Illness and Homelessness Factsheet, retrieved on May 20, 2009 at http://www.issuelab.org/research/mental_illness_and_homelessness_2008.
19 Severe depression includes those who reported that they were experiencing depression, and that their depression prevents them from getting work or housing.
26.1%
51.3%
20.2%
42.4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Mental illness
Depression
2009
2011

 Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of respondents who reported experiencing PTSD increased very slightly from 15% to 16%.
» Of respondents who reported experiencing PTSD in 2011, 64% indicated that their disorder prevents them from getting work or housing.
Chronic Health Problems
 In 2009 and 2011, the same percentage of respondents (25%) reported experiencing chronic health problems.
» Of respondents who reported experiencing chronic health problems in 2011, 76% indicated that their chronic health problems prevent them from getting work or housing.
HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Hepatitis C
 In 2009 and 2011, the same percentage of respondents (1%) reported experiencing HIV/AIDS- related illnesses (7 of 762 respondents in 2009 and 9 of 735 respondents in 2011).
» Of the 9 respondents who reported experiencing HIV/AIDS in 2011, 6 respondents indicated that their HIV/AIDS-related issues prevent them from getting work or housing. 21
 In 2011, 8 respondents (1%) reported experiencing Tuberculosis and 76 respondents (10%) reported experiencing Hepatitis C.
22
» Of the 8 respondents who reported experiencing Tuberculosis in 2011, 4 respondents indicated that their Tuberculosis-related issues prevent them from getting work or housing.
» Of the 76 respondents who reported experiencing Hepatitis C in 2011, 15 respondents indicated that their Hepatitis C-related issues prevent them from getting work or housing.
20 National Center for PTSD, Fact Sheet, retrieved on April 10, 2009 from http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/ncdocs/fact_shts/fs_what_is_ptsd.html.
21 This question was added in 2011; therefore 2009 data is not available.
22 This question was added in 2011; therefore 2009 data is not available.

Figure 25: Percentage of Respondents Who Were Currently Experiencing HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, or Hepatitis C
2009 N: HIV/AIDS=762, Tuberculosis=NA, Hepatitis C=NA.
2011 N: HIV/AIDS=735, Tuberculosis=727, Hepatitis C=740.
* Tuberculosis and Hepatitis C were added in 2011; therefore 2009 data is not available.
Substance Abuse
 Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of respondents who were experiencing substance abuse decreased from 38% to 33%.
» Of respondents who reported experiencing substance abuse in 2011, 69% indicated that their substance abuse problems prevent them from getting work or housing.
Disabling Conditions Among Respondents’ Spouse, Significant Other, or Parent
Figure 26: Of Respondents Living with a Spouse, Significant Other, or Parent, Percentage Whose Spouse, Significant Other, or Parent Has the Following Disabling Conditions that Prevent Them from Maintaining Work or Housing, 2011
N: 2011=Multiple response question with 48 respondents offering 63 responses.
Note: This question was added in 2011; therefore, 2009 data is not available.
0.9%
1.2%
1.1%
10.3%
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
HIV/AIDS
Tuberculosis
Hepatitis C
2009
2011
0.0%
6.3%
14.6%
16.7%
25.0%
25.0%
43.8%
0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
HIV/AIDS
Developmental disability
PTSD
Mental illneses
Substance addition
Disabling physical condition
None
NA*
NA*

Incarceration
The transition from prison to society, or from foster care to a state of independence, can be a difficult one. Survey results indicate that some homeless people are struggling with these transition issues.
Nights in Jail or Prison
 31% of homeless respondents reported that they had spent at least one night in jail or prison in the year prior to the survey, which is a decrease from 34% in 2009.
Figure 27: Number of Nights Respondents Reported Spending in Jail/Prison in the Year Prior to the Survey
N: 2009=774, 2011=777.
Transition from Jail or Prison
 5% of respondents indicated that immediately before they became homeless, they were in jail or prison, a slight decrease from 7% in 2009.
Foster Care
 11% of respondents indicated in 2011 that they had been in foster care at least once in their lifetime, compared to 15% in 2009.
» In 2011, a slightly greater percentage of sheltered respondents indicated having been in foster care at least once in their lifetime, compared to unsheltered respondents (12% and 10%, respectively).
Domestic/Partner Violence or Abuse
 Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of respondents who were experiencing domestic/partner violence or abuse at the time of survey increased slightly from 8% to 10%.
» In 2011, 49% of respondents who were currently experiencing domestic/partner violence or abuse reported that it prevents them from getting work or housing.
66.1%
8.0%
4.3%
3.4%
4.1%
14.1%
69.1%
12.5%
2.6%
1.5%
4.6%
9.7%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
0 nights
1-5 nights
6-10 nights
11-20 nights
21-50 nights
> 50 nights
2009
2011

Figure 28: Respondents Who Were Experiencing Domestic/Partner Violence or Abuse (By Gender)
2009 N: Total=756, Male=455, Female=292.
2011 N: Total=745, Male=463, Female=277.
Access to Assistance/Services, Homeless Programs, and Medical Care
Access to Government Assistance
Government assistance and homeless programs work to enable the homeless community to obtain income and services. However, many homeless people do not apply for these programs, or do not feel they qualify for aid.
 Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of respondents who reported that they were receiving some form of government assistance23
» Of those respondents receiving some form of government assistance, Food Stamps was the most commonly cited form of government assistance that respondents reported receiving in both 2009 and 2011 (48% and 73%, respectively). increased from 57% to 63%.
» Of those not receiving assistance, 28% did not think they were eligible. This is compared to 33% of 2009 respondents.
23 For the purposes of this study, the following forms of government assistance were included: General Assistance, Food Stamps, Medi-Cal/Medi-Care, Veteran’s Benefits, WIC (Women, Infants, and Children), Social Security, MSI (Medical Services Initiative), SSI (Supplemental Security Income)/SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance), Cash Aid/CalWORKS, VA (Veteran Affairs) Disability Compensation, and other governmental assistance (State disability benefits, workers compensation, unemployment, etc.).
7.8%
5.5%
11.6%
9.5%
3.0%
20.2%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Total
Male
Female
2009
2011

Figure 29: Of Those Respondents Receiving Some Form of Government Assistance, Types of Assistance Received (Top 5 Responses in 2011)
N: 2009=Multiple response question with 377 respondents offering 643 responses; 2011=Multiple response question with 488 respondents offering 829 responses.
Figure 30: Reasons for Not Receiving Government Assistance (Top 7 Responses in 2011)
9.6%
13.1%
15.0%
24.6%
73.2%
11.7%
11.9%
23.1%
27.6%
48.3%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
General Assistance
Cash Aid/CalWORKS
MSI (Medical Services Initiative)
Medi-Cal/Medi-Care
Food Stamps
2009
2011
16.0%
16.0%
16.0%
16.3%
18.8%
27.1%
27.8%
9.0%
10.5%
12.3%
16.9%
14.3%
17.9%
32.7%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Will apply soon
No transportation
Have no identification
Turned down
No permanent address
Never applied
Don't think I'm eligible
2009
2011

Access to Services and Programs
 Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of respondents who were utilizing any services or assistance24
» Of those respondents utilizing services/assistance, free meals was the most commonly cited type of service/assistance respondents reported utilizing in both 2009 and 2011 (79% and 80%, respectively). decreased slightly from 89% to 85%.
Figure 31: Of Those Respondents Utilizing Any Services or Assistance, Types of Services or Assistance Utilized (Top 5 Responses in 2011)
N: 2009=Multiple response question with 686 respondents offering 1,645 responses; 2011=Multiple response question with 671 respondents offering 1,517 responses.
Access to Shelters
 14% of respondents indicated that they had tried to stay at a shelter or transitional housing facility in Orange County in the 30 days prior to the survey, but were turned away. This is virtually the same percentage as in 2009 (13%).
» In 2011, 13% of respondents indicated having tried to stay at a shelter in Orange County in the 30 days prior to the survey, but were turned away, while 2% reported having tried to stay at a transitional housing facility but were turned away.
24 For the purposes of this study, the following services/types of assistance were included: emergency shelter, free meals, bus passes, job training, alcohol/drug counseling, shelter day services, legal assistance, health services, mental health services, and other services/types of assistance.
16.8%
22.8%
30.7%
35.9%
79.7%
23.0%
13.7%
31.8%
31.5%
78.6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Health services
Shelter day services
Emergency shelter
Bus passes
Free meals
2009
2011

 From 2009 to 2011, the percentage of respondents who either had not been turned away from, or had not sought, any kind of shelter in the past 30 days stayed virtually the same (87% and 86%, respectively).
» Of those who were turned away, a lack of available beds was most commonly cited as the reason for being denied admittance to the shelter (60%), followed by alcohol/drug problems (21%).25
Figure 32: In the Last 30 Days, Have You Ever Tried to Stay at a Shelter or Transitional Housing Program in Orange County and Been Turned Away?
N: 2009=Multiple response question with 783 respondents offering 783 responses. 2011=Multiple response question with 794 respondents offering 797 responses.
Figure 33: Of Respondents Who Tried to Stay at a Shelter or Transitional Housing Facility in the Month Prior to the Survey and Were Turned Away, Reasons They Were Turned Away (Top 5 Responses in 2011)
25 These responses were not mutually exclusive.
11.1%
1.7%
87.2%
12.7%
2.0%
85.6%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Yes, a shelter
Yes, a transitional housing program
No
2009
2011
9.5%
14.3%
16.2%
21.0%
60.0%
11.0%
15.4%
9.9%
11.0%
47.3%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Don't like the religious service
Couldn't follow shelter rules
Because you smoke
Alcohol/drug problems
No beds available
2009
2011

Access to Food
 The percentage of respondents who reported that they do not usually get enough to eat on a daily basis doubled between 2009 and 2011, increasing from 5% to 10%.
Figure 34: Do You Usually Get Enough to Eat on a Daily Basis?
N: 2009=771, 2011=785.
Access to Medical Care
Access to health care is vital to general well-being. While many Orange County residents struggle with the high costs of health care, homeless residents are particularly vulnerable to many unique challenges regarding their health.
 21% of respondents reported that since they most recently became homeless, they have needed medical care but been unable to receive it, which is a decrease from 28% in 2009.
 The most commonly cited usual source of medical care among respondents was the hospital emergency room (46%), followed by a free/community clinic (18%) and a private doctor (10%).
 21% indicated in 2011 that they had used the emergency room three or more times in the last 12 months for any treatment, compared to 20% in 2009.
 Between 2009 and 2011, the percentage of respondents who reported that they usually receive adequate medical care increased from 76% to 82%.
71.3%
23.5%
5.2%
69.8%
20.4%
9.8%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Yes
Sometimes
No
2009
2011

Figure 35: Respondents’ Usual Source of Medical Care (Top 5 Responses)
N: 2009=780, 2011=786.
Figure 36: Number of Times Respondents Used the Emergency Room for Any Treatment in the Last 12 Months
N: 2009=774, 2011=779.
Use of Technology
 42% of respondents reported that they have a working cell phone.
 32% reported that they use the internet at least once a week.
7.1%
7.8%
10.4%
17.8%
46.2%
7.9%
7.8%
14.2%
23.1%
41.2%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Don't ever go
VA hospital/clinic
Private doctor
Free/community clinic
Hospital emergency room
2009
2011
50.3%
19.1%
11.1%
6.2%
3.6%
1.4%
8.3%
50.1%
17.3%
11.9%
8.5%
4.2%
2.2%
5.8%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Never
1 time
2 times
3 times
4 times
5 times
> 5 times
2009
2011

Figure 37: Frequency of Internet Usage, 2011
N=785.
33.9%
31.6%
5.1%
29.4%
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Never
At least once a week
At least once a month
Sometimes

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey HUD-Defined Homeless Subpopulations
HUD-DEFINED HOMELESS SUBPOPULATIONS

HUD-Defined Homeless Subpopulations 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey

2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey HUD-Defined Homeless Subpopulations
HUD-DEFINED HOMELESS SUBPOPULATIONS
The following section focuses special attention on specific subpopulations, including: chronically homeless persons and families, homeless veterans, homeless families, and unaccompanied homeless children and youth. These groups have been identified by the federal government as populations of particular interest in the 2011 point-in-time homeless count.
The following table breaks down the homeless count data into subpopulations. These data are based on both the homeless count and data from the homeless survey. Lines 1-6 of the following chart are estimates calculated by applying the survey results to the point-in-time homeless count population.
Figure 38: Homeless Subpopulation Estimates
Homeless Subpopulations
Sheltered
Unsheltered
Total
2009
2011
Net Change
Percent Change
2009
2011
Net Change
Percent Change
2009
2011
Net Change
Percent Change
1. Chronically homeless
1a. Chronically homeless persons
205*
66*
-139
-67.8%
3,578
1,585
-1,993
-55.7%
3,783
1,651
-2,132
-56.4%
1b. Chronically homeless families (total persons in household)
NA**
15*
NA
NA
NA**
4*
NA
NA
NA**
19
NA
NA
2. Veterans
178
96
-82
-46.1%
1,104
760
-344
-31.2%
1,282
856
-426
-33.2%
3. Severely mentally ill***
488
341
-147
-30.1%
1,904
1,414
-490
-25.7%
2,392
1,755
-637
-26.6%
4. Chronic substance abuse
392
292
-100
-25.5%
2,683
1,618
-1,065
-39.7%
3,075
1,910
-1,165
-37.9%
5. Persons with HIV/AIDS
7
16
9
128.6%
68
55
-13
-19.1%
75
71
-4
-5.3%
6. Victims of domestic violence
175
444
269
153.7%
475
303
-172
-36.2%
650
747
97
14.9%
7. Unaccompanied children (under 18 years of age)
125
41
-84
-67.2%
24
13
-11
-45.8%
149
54
-95
-63.8%
* “Sheltered” chronically homeless subpopulations include those in emergency shelters only.
** Chronic homeless families is a newly defined homeless subpopulation as of 2011; therefore, 2009 data is not available.
*** In 2011, severe mental illness data are estimates based on survey respondents who reported experiencing mental illness and/or severe depression. Severe depression includes those who reported that they were experiencing depression, and that their depression prevents them from getting work or housing. Per HUD’s guidelines, these estimates exclude those who reported experiencing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

HUD-Defined Homeless Subpopulations 2011 Orange County Homeless Census & Survey
Chronic Homelessness
The mortality rate for chronically homeless men and women is four to nine times higher than for the general population and those experiencing long-term homelessness often incur significant public costs – through emergency room visits, run-ins with law enforcement, incarceration, and access to existing poverty and homeless programs.26 In 2011, the federal government announced a 5-year plan to end chronic homelessness. The plan focuses on permanent supportive housing, reducing financial instability, and improving heath and housing stability.27
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development defines a chronically homeless individual as:
 An unaccompanied homeless individual (18 or older) with a disabling condition who:
» Has been living on the streets or in a place not meant for human habitation, an emergency shelter (not transitional housing), or a safe haven; and
» Has either been continually homeless for one year or more or experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the past 3 years.
In 2011, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development also required that data on chronically homeless families be collected during the point-in-time count, which is defined as:
 A family with at least one adult member (18 or older) who has a disabling condition and:
» Has been living on the streets or in a place not meant for human habitation, an emergency shelter (not transitional housing), or a safe haven; and
» Has either been continually homeless for one year or more or experienced at least four episodes of homelessness in the past 3 years.
As stated previously, for the purposes of this study, a disabling condition was defined as a physical or developmental disability, mental illness, severe depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, chronic health problems, HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis C, or substance abuse.
Number of Chronically Homeless Individuals and Families
 It is estimated that on any given day in 2011, Orange County has approximately 1,651 chronically homeless persons. This represents a 56% decrease from 3,783 chronically homeless persons in 2009.
26 The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness. (2011). Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness. Washington D.C.
27 United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development, The 2009 Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress, June 2010.

2011 OC Orange County homeless_report_final

2011 OC Orange County homeless_report_final

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