Data Mining - Homeless Data

There is a lot of data out there about us that needs to mined, one of them is what is called the “Point-in-Time” Count or PIT where they count homeless people around the country. I took part in one count and I will like to do it again but this year it will be in the morning and the count is outside.

The PIT count is mandated by HUD (at least for now) and it is done on the same day around the country and after the data is compiled it is reported to Congress.

So what is the data on us?

Well first some facts about the homeless in Connecticut from the CCEH…

Key Findings

• On the night of January 24, 2017, 3,387 people were experiencing homelessness in Connecticut. This represents a 13% decrease from last year and a 24% decrease from 2007.
• The number of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness (long-term homelessness and living with a severe disability) has decreased, 60% since 2014, down 11% since 2016.
• Nearly 60% of those counted as chronically homeless were in the process of securing permanent housing.
• 34 Veterans were identified in emergency shelter. This represents a decrease of 24% since last year. 14 Veterans were unsheltered – a decrease of 67% from last year.
• 4,396 youth under the age of 25 were estimated to be homeless or unstably housed, including 269 counted as literally homeless in the PIT.
• 392 families were experiencing homelessness, a decrease of 13% from 2016.
• 415 people were unsheltered, representing a 38% decrease from last year.
• 2017 now represents the lowest total ever in a statewide CT PIT Count for Individuals,
• Families, Veterans, and Chronically Homeless since the first statewide count in 2007

Okay what about us?

Another interesting fact is the quality of care given to youth under DCF care,

Forty-three percent of homeless or unstably housed youth reported involvement with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or Foster Care. See Table 16. National studies have shown that foster care and involvement in the child welfare system are significant predictors of future episodes of homelessness. According to USICH in the Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness: “Every year, 30,000 youth age out of foster care and 20,000-25,000 age out of the juvenile justice system. Most have limited options for housing, income, and family or other social support.”

Okay what about us?

Demographics
Data collected from the 2017 CT Youth Count! indicate that the majority of homeless and unstably housed youth are 18-24 years old. Of the youth surveyed, 74% were over 18. Fifty-two percent were male and 43% were female. The average age of respondents was 20. Twenty-three percent of youth also identified as LGBTQIA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual). See Table 10 for more details.
From the table…

Gender:
Male 52%
Female 43%
Unknown 2%
Transgender 2%
Genderqueer 1% 

The report goes on…

Victims of Domestic Violence are people who answered “yes” to “Are you a victim of domestic violence?” or were in an emergency shelter or transitional housing project for domestic violence victims. Also, the calculation is only for adults who identify as Female or Transgender. Past data analysis indicated a high false positive rate when men were included in the calculation.

While the national report to Congress says,

• Just under 61 percent of people experiencing homelessness (335,038 people) were men, and 39 percent (215,709 people) were women. Fewer than one percent were either transgender (2,092) or did not identify as male, female, or transgender (903).
• Homelessness declined among women but increased among both men and people identifying as transgender. The number of women experiencing homelessness declined by one percent (1,559 people), while the number of men increased by one percent (4,148 people) and the number of transgender people experiencing homelessness increased by 18 percent (or 322 people).

Whether it is due to better counting methods or we have more homeless trans people it is distressing.