Population characteristics

What does this indicator measure?
This indicator presents demographic data about the homeless population in the city of Dallas. A homeless person is defined by U.S. Code (42 U.S.C. § 11302 (2002)) as the following:

(1) an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and (2) an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is (A) 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); (B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or (C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

Data presented here was collected by the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance in accordance with the stipulations set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and published in Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance's 2005 Annual "Point in Time" Homeless Count.

Why is this indicator important?
Discovering the issues faced by homeless individuals, as well as the reasons they became homeless, helps us identify ways to effectively address the problems and work to alleviate them. Furthermore, having a home provides an individual with a sense of stability and empowerment, such that the individual may be able to more effectively cope with and ultimately overcome struggles such as substance abuse and mental illness. Ending homelessness impacts not only individuals, but also communities, as individuals move toward independent lifestyles, overcome their other struggles, and become productive members of society.

Identifying the homeless is not an easy task because of the difficulties in locating them. According to an article by Kim Horner, published January 22, 2006, in The Dallas Morning News, officials have reported that in the recent past, city or state transportation workers razed known homeless camps after homeless counts were taken, thereby creating distrust among homeless individuals. As a result, homeless persons sometimes make themselves difficult to find on the night when a census is taken.

In addition to providing more information in an effort to address issues related to homelessness, data about the homeless are collected in order to secure federal funding to help deal with these issues. Communities must provide a "point in time" (PIT) count of their homeless populations every two years in order to apply for HUD's annual Continuum of Care (CoC) funds. According to a Texas Homeless Network (THN) newsletter from December 2005, HUD has required the PIT counts to be conducted the last week of January since the 2003 CoC application. Such a census must collect the number and demographic data of homeless people sleeping in emergency shelters, transitional housing, or other sites (such as motels by using a homeless voucher) on the count night, as well as the number of nonsheltered people on that given night.

While doing a count on one night has the benefit of gathering data in a short amount of time, there are serious concerns about relying on such a procedure for information collected in order to help the homeless. A count made on a single night may underestimate the actual number of homeless persons. A database kept by the Community Council of Greater Dallas includes information from social service agencies as well as that from the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance's PIT count. It should also be noted that information given is as reported by the homeless individuals. Data from service providers indicate the numbers of individuals experiencing mental illness, substance abuse, and domestic violence are higher than those shown in the PIT count.

How are we doing?
According to the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance's (MDHA) PIT count conducted on January 24, 2005, 5,898 homeless individuals live in Dallas, a 5% increase above the number counted in 2004. The 2005 census included 2,232 surveys, 27% more than the number conducted in the previous year.

Of the total number of homeless persons counted, 79%, or 4,627, were adults.

Of the adult population, 66% of the surveyed individuals were male.
Of the adult population, 34% of the surveyed individuals were female.
Of the adult population surveyed, 55% were African American, 31% were White, 10% were Hispanic, 1% were American Indian, and 3% were included in the Other category. The MDHA report states that the racial demographics have not changed significantly since 2003.
The highest percentage of representation by age in the adult population was that of the 40 to 49 years old category, representing 37% of the adult homeless population surveyed of a known age. The second highest percentage was that of the 30 to 39 years old category, representing 23% of the adult homeless population.
The majority (53%) of adults with a known marital status were single. Of the number of adults surveyed with a known marital status, 22% reported being divorced.

Of the total number of homeless persons counted, 21%, or 1,271, were children. Of that number, 45 were unaccompanied children found on the night of the count.

Of the children and youth population, 47% of the individuals represented in surveys were male.
Of the children and youth population, 53% of the individuals represented in surveys were female.
Of the children and youth population represented by surveys, 56% were African American, 16% were White, 23% were Hispanic, 1% were American Indian, and 4% were included in the Other category. The MDHA report indicates a significant difference in the number of homeless Hispanic children and youth as compared with the number of homeless Hispanic adults.
The highest percentage of representation by age in the children and youth population was that of the 1 to 3 years old category, representing 21% of the children and youth homeless population surveyed of a known age. The second highest percentages, with 19% of this population each, were that of the 4 to 6 years old category and the 7 to 9 years old category.

In regard to reasons for homelessness, the MDHA's PIT count shows the following:

Of the number responding to such questions, 44% of the homeless population reported unemployment or loss of a job.
Not having enough money represented 30% of the population's reasons for homelessness.
Of the respondents, 26% reported substance abuse or dependence as a reason for homelessness.
Of the respondents, 14% reported mental illness as a reason for homelessness. It is important to note that data from social services agencies indicate that the numbers of homeless individuals with mental illness or substance abuse reported here are lower than the actual numbers of individuals with these conditions.
The MDHA report states that the number of people reporting legal problems or prior conviction as a reason for homelessness rose from 7% in 2004 to 11% in 2005.
The MDHA report also states that the number of people reporting conviction as a reason for homelessness rose from 2% in 2004 to 7% in 2005.

Respondents were shown a list of 16 characteristics and asked if any of the characteristics applied to themselves or their spouses. Percentages given here are based on the total number of adults and unaccompanied youth included in the surveys. However, not all participants responded to this portion of the survey. The following data are some, but not all, of the characteristics included in the survey.

Of the survey participants, 54% reported being unemployed.
A history of substance abuse was reported by 31%.
Mental illness was reported by 17%.
Of the participants, 7% indicated they had been diagnosed with HIV or AIDS.
Of the surveyed individuals, 22% reported being an ex-offender.

In regard to duration of homelessness, the MDHA reports the following:

Of those responding, 1,058 individuals, or 47%, stated they had been homeless at least 1 year.
Of those responding, 434 individuals, or 19%, reported they had become homeless for the first time during 2004.
On the count night, 997 chronically homeless persons were reported. This represents a 16% decrease compared with the number in 2004. It is important to note that at the time of the count, 434 individuals who would have been considered chronically homeless were either in transitional housing or in permanent supportive housing.

According to the January 22, 2006, Dallas Morning Newsarticle by Kim Horner, data from social services agencies supplied to the Community Council of Greater Dallas indicate the current number of homeless persons in Dallas County is 9,124, a record number. It is possible that this number is a result of evacuees coming into the area after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. It is also possible that the process of identifying the homeless population is improving.