Chester Co. Homelessness Rate Drops Slightly In 2019, Study Shows

Homelessness rates are slightly down in Chester County in 2019, continuing a slow but steady downward trend over the last four years, according to an annual study organized in part by the county.

The total number of homeless individuals is 517, down from 555 just a year ago. However, it's a 24 percent decrease from four years ago, officials said, when there were 682.

The study was executed by the Chester County Department of Community Development and then analyzed by Decade to Doorways (DCD), an organization dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness in the county. Officials hope that the study, part of a national effort spearheaded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, can help shape local plans to get homeless residents housed.

The stated goal is to end homelessness in Chester County by 2022.

Of the 517, 497 were housed in transitional shelters, and 201 of them were veterans.

There were 20 individuals who were unsheltered, meaning they were sleeping in cars, tents, and under overpasses.

Officials said a majority of the homeless individuals in the county are in Kennett Square. Nonetheless, they are hopeful.

“The downward trend that Chester County is seeing for those who are experiencing homelessness can be attributed to a combination of factors, all coming together because of the Decade to Doorways initiative," Pat Bokovitz, Director of Chester County’s Department of Community Development, said in a statement. "We are bringing together the work of our coordinated homeless service providers, the increase in permanent supportive housing resources, and the targeting of resources to support the most vulnerable. These efforts are bringing us even closer to Chester County’s goal of ending homelessness.”

In order to count the total number of homeless individuals, police, libraries, nonprofits, and food cupboards, along with other personnel, helped identify known sleeping locations of homeless individuals - both on the streets and in dedicated shelters. The count of 517 was made on the night of Jan. 24, from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m., DCD said.

The same methods were used to count homeless individuals at around the same time of year in previous years.