Agenda - Council - 10/26/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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( HeadingHome ANOKA A regional initiative to end homelessness FACTS on HOMELESSNESS Minnesota definition of homeless: Any individual, unaccompanied youth, or family that is without a permanent place to live that is fit for human habitation. Minnesota definition of long -term (chronic) homeless: An individual, unaccompanied youth, or family that has been without a home for a year or more OR has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. Who Is Homeless? • Per Wilder Research Center, an estimated 13,100 Minnesotans are homeless on any given night. Nearly one -half of the homeless persons identified during the Wilder survey were children and youth. The largest change in population group from 2006 -2009 was among young adults (age 18 -21) - a 57 percent increase. • Approximately 58 percent of the children in families served in emergency shelters or transitional housing programs were age 5 or younger. • Three - fourths of homeless adults report at least one of three major health issues. Many report multiple issues: 19% chronic health condition + serious mental illness; 11% chronic health condition + serious mental illness + substance abuse disorder. • Forty -one percent of homeless adults report conditions that limit the kind or amount of work they can do. Thirty -three percent of homeless adults report cognitive disabilities. • Of the 669 homeless veterans in the survey, 44% report a service- related health problem. • Per the point -in -time count conducted on January 27, 2010: a total of 747 households with 1,301 persons were identified as homeless in Anoka County on that date — a 40% increase from the previous year (535 households with 1,004 persons in 2009). Of the 747 households, 227 were chronically homeless. • Of the 1,301 persons who were homeless: 490 were children in families, 49 were minors age 17 or less, 106 were youth age 18 -21, 276 were adults in families, and 380 were single adults. • In the 227 households considered chronically homeless: there were 132 children in families, 16 minors age 17 or less, 32 youth age 18 -21, 61 adults in families, 89 single male adults, and 45 single female adults.