Conference of Mayors Report provides snapshot
in 27 cities across the country
76 percent reported an increase in family homelessness
Trenton is only one in New Jersey
The U.S. Conference of Mayors released their annual Homelessness and Hunger Survey on December 8th.
Of the 27 cities participating, 19 (76 percent) reported an increase in family homelessness over the past year, while 16 of the cities (64 percent) reported that homelessness among individuals decreased or remained level.
The report finds that most of the cities reporting decreases in individual homelessness attribute that decline to ten year plans to end chronic homelessness.
The most-cited reasons for increases in family homelessness were the recession and a lack of sufficient affordable housing. HPRP will “fundamentally change” how they assist people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless in 18 of the 27 cities. More than half of the remaining cities have already made the changes that HPRP supports.
The report is based on data collected between October 2008 and September 2009. Individual city profiles are also included in the report.
Click here to download the full report.
The Homelessness and Hunger Survey found:
- A sharp increase in the need for hunger assistance over the past year. On average, cities reported a 26 percent increase in the demand for assistance, the largest average increase since 1991.
- An increase in requests from middle class households that used to donate to food pantries, as well as increases in requests from families and from people who are uninsured, elderly, working poor, or homeless. People also are visiting food pantries and emergency kitchens more often.
- A large increase in the amount of food distributed over the past year was driven by both increased supply — federal assistance from the stimulus package — and increased need. Growing demand has caused food banks to distribute more and stockpile less.
- Despite the recession, 16 cities, 64 percent of respondents, reported a leveling or decrease in the number of homeless individuals over the past year. This is an indication of the success of policies aimed at ending chronic homelessness among single adults with disabilities.
- Nineteen cities, 76 percent of respondents, reported an increase in family homelessness. Cities attributed the increase in family homelessness to the recession and a lack of affordable housing.
- Only ten cities reported having homeless ‘tent cities’ or other large homeless encampments and even within these cities they account for a very small percentage of people who are homeless.
- Eighteen cities, 72 percent of respondents, reported that the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), funded through the stimulus, will ‘fundamentally change the way [their] community provides services to people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness’. Cities are using HPRP funding to develop central intake systems for homeless services, coordinate services more closely with surrounding areas, or offer homeless prevention assistance for the first time.
This is the information on Trenton in the report:
Trenton has experienced a one percent increase in homelessness during the last year. Some of this increase is attributed to a greater number of homeless people living on the streets. The shelter system is operating at or near full capacity. Some clients are finding shelter at the city’s overflow center, located at the East Trenton Center where cots are provided on cold nights to those living on the street. Homeless providers report that many clients have recently become homeless as a result of the struggling economy and rising unemployment rates.
Trenton received $1,251,452 in federal funding through the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). The city is combining these resources with several other funding streams to develop a new initiative to rapidly assist homeless people in acquiring permanent housing. Local nonprofits have coordinated their efforts with city and county staff to develop this program, which will include case management as well as linkages to mainstream services. Some HPRP funding is being used to develop a prevention program that will also include case management, offer housing locator services, and assistance with first month’s rent and payment of arrears.
