Chronic Homelessness In Evansville Region Declines 38 Percent

From the City of Evansville:

The Commission on Homelessness for Evansville and Vanderburgh County and the Homeless Service Council (Regional Planning Council) today announced that chronic homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County has declined 38 percent year-over-year, from 56 people in 2018 to 35 this year. Regional officials attributed the decline to the impact of the community’s significant multi-year investment in permanent supportive housing – such as those recently introduced by ECHO Housing Corporation – and effective regional and local coordination on strategies to reduce homelessness and utilization of the statewide Coordinated Entry system. The findings were part of the 2019 Point-in-Time (PIT) count of homelessness in the region.

Chronic homelessness is defined as someone who has experienced homelessness for one year or longer, or has experienced four separate occurrences of homelessness over the past three years that total one year or more, according to HUD. Individuals suffering from chronic homelessness often have complex and long-term health conditions that make it difficult for them to get back into or maintain stable housing. Permanent supportive housing, which pairs housing with case management and supportive services, is a proven solution to addressing chronic homelessness.

In addition, this year’s single-day Point-in-Time count revealed a 12 percent increase in the region’s overall number of people experiencing homelessness, to 477 individuals in 2019 versus 427 in 2018. Accounting for the majority of the change was an increase in the number of homeless men, whose numbers were influenced by increased substance abuse and lack of access to affordable housing in the region. Also, the stretch of colder temperatures during the last week of January 2019, when the Point in Time count was conducted, led to a higher number of people using emergency overnight services, making them easier to count.

The Point in Time (PIT) count is an annual count mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for every metropolitan area receiving HUD funding to address homelessness. Our region’s PIT count involves Aurora’s Homeless Outreach Team and other local homeless service agencies and volunteers who count the number of individuals experiencing homelessness during the fourth week of January each year. Evansville’s 2019 PIT count began on the evening of January 23, 2019, at United Caring Services – where many unsheltered homeless were indoors due to “White Flag” – and concluded the early morning of January 24, 2019. This count is traditionally done in late January during the coldest week of the year when people are more likely to seek shelter.

The PIT count includes those individuals who are living on the streets in places not meant for human habitation, and in shelters. Aurora’s Homeless Outreach Team, the Evansville Police Department Homeless Outreach Liaison Officer and several community volunteers work with local organizations – including House of Bread and Peace, United Caring Services, Ozanam Family Shelter, Evansville Rescue Mission, the YWCA and the Albion Fellows Bacon Center – in a collaborative effort to ensure an accurate count.

Regional Point in Time Count Results – 2015-2019

2019—477 individuals. 35 chronically homeless – down 38% from 2018 and, 67% since 2015.

2018—427 individuals. 56 chronically homeless.

2017—428 individuals. 56 chronically homeless.

2016—495 individuals. 77 chronically homeless.

2015—462 individuals. 105 chronically homeless.

Link to interactive graph

Our area’s Regional Planning Council on Homelessness – Region 12 – includes the counties of Knox, Daviess, Gibson, Pike, Dubois, Posey Vanderburgh, Spencer, and Perry.

About the Commission on Homelessness

The Commission on Homelessness for Evansville and Vanderburgh County was formed in 2005 to direct and facilitate the implementation of strategic actions to prevent and end homelessness in our community. The Commission includes representatives of local non-profit and civic organizations, City and County government, the Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, the United Way of Southwestern Indiana, and homeless services and housing organizations, among others. Together, they provide leadership for local implementation of national programs and resources to address homelessness, including housing initiatives, coordinated entry and other community-wide homeless processes, homeless diversion and prevention programs and related matters. For more: www.evansvillehomeless.org/ and www.facebook.com/evvhomeless/

This press release was produced by the City of Evansville. The views expressed here are the author’s own.