Number Of Homeless People Drops In Alexandria In 2019

ALEXANDRIA, VA—On one day each year, the number of homeless people are counted for a point-in-time count in Alexandria. According to the 2019 count, homelessness has declined in Alexandria.

The 2019 point-in-time count on Wednesday, Jan. 23 found 198 people experiencing homelessness. That's a 12 percent decline from the 2018 count. The annual counts are typically done on the last Wednesday of January.

The 198 homeless people included 23 families comprised of 28 adults and 46 children. The remainder are 124 single residents—84 men and 40 women. 10 of these people were unsheltered and 38 experienced chronic homelessness.

To perform the count, the Department of Community and Human Services and non-profit partners provided data on people receiving homeless services. People sleeping outside or in places not meant for habitation were counted as unsheltered.

All of the homeless people included in the count were surveyed. According to the Department of Community and Human Services, the two common barriers to ending homelessness are extremely low incomes, lack of affordable permanent housing for the lowest income households.

One of Alexandria's homeless shelters, Carpenter's Shelter, will seek to address the permanent housing issue through the reconstruction of its building. The new building at 930 North Henry Street will house Carpenter's shelter and The Bloom, an affordable apartment complex with 97 one, two, and three bedroom units. 10 units will be permanent supportive housing for Carpenter's Shelter residents ready to transition from the shelter. Carpenter's Shelter is temporarily set up at the vacant Landmark Mall during the rebuilding.

SEE ALSO: Carpenter's Shelter To Hold Annual Cook-Off