san francisco pit homeless count 2013 final · and through the final stages of the project....

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey Acknowledgements

©2013AppliedSurveyResearch ASR –AllRightsReserved.

2

Acknowledgements The2013SanFranciscoHomelessCountandSurveyplanningteamwouldliketothankthemanyindividualsandagencieswhocontributedtheirconsiderabletalentsandeffortstothisproject.Theparticipationofpartneragenciesandvolunteersiscriticaltothesuccessofthecount,fromtheinitialplanningmeetings,tothenightofthecount,andthroughthefinalstagesoftheproject.HundredsofcommunityvolunteersandCitystaff,andlocalcommunity‐basedorganizationsassistedwithalldifferentaspectsofthecount.

TheSanFranciscoLocalHomelessCoordinatingBoard LHCB ,thecoordinatingbodyforSanFrancisco’sContinuumofCare,providedoversightforthe2013HomelessCountproject.WethankthemembersoftheLHCBfortheirvaluedinputandguidance.MeetingsoftheLHCBalsoservedasaforumforstakeholderandcommunityinputontheproject.WealsothanktheHomelessEmergencyServiceProvidersAssociationfortheirinputonthesurveydesign.

WethankProjectHomelessConnectforvolunteerrecruitment,providingvolunteerrefreshments,andlogisticalsupport.

Thefollowingagencieshelpedinourplanningefforts:SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency,U.S.DepartmentofVeteransAffairs,USDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment,DepartmentofPublicHealth,theMayor’sOffice,OfficeofCityAdministrator,andtheSanFranciscoPoliceDepartment.

Inparticular,wewouldliketomentionthefollowingindividualsfortheirtimeandeffort:MayorEdwinLee,SteveArcelona,JoyceCrum,DarylHigashi,CharlesMorimoto,JohnMurray,MeganOwens,RajeshParekh,RannParker,TrentRhorer,Lt.WilliamRoualdes,andAliSchlageter.

WethankCentroLatino,St.IgnatiusHighSchool,theUnitedCouncilofHumanServices,andtheSanFranciscoDepartmentofPublicHealthforlendingtheuseoftheirfacilitiesasdispatchcentersonthenightofthecount.

WethankPamelaTeboandKimDaRosaoftheSanFranciscoHumanServicesAgencyfortheirmediacoordination.

Weappreciatethefollowingprogramsandsitesthatprovideddatafortheshelteredcount:

SHELTERS

AsianWomen’sShelter▪CentralCityHospitalityHouse▪CompassFamilyCenter▪DoloresStreetCommunityServices▪HamiltonFamilyEmergencyShelter▪HamiltonFamilyResidences▪HuckleberryHouse▪InterfaithWinter ▪LaCasadeLasMadres▪LarkinStreetYouthServicesShelters▪MSCSouthNextDoor▪Providence▪RaphaelHouse▪RosalieHouse▪SFHOTStabilizationRooms▪St.Joseph’sFamilyShelter▪TheSanctuary

SAFE HAVEN

▪AWoman’sPlace▪

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey Acknowledgements


3

TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS

AWoman’sPlace▪BrennanHouse▪CameoHouse▪CompassFamilyServicesTransitionalHousing▪HamiltonTransitionalHousingProgram▪LarkinStreetYouthServicesTransitionalHousingPrograms▪SafeHouseforWomen▪SalvationArmyTransitionalHousingPrograms▪SwordstoPlowsharesTransitionalHousing▪HealthRIGHT360TransitionalHousingPrograms

JAIL

SanFranciscoCountyJail

HOSPITALS

CaliforniaPacificMedicalCenter▪Kaiser▪SanFranciscoGeneralHospital▪St.Francis▪St.Mary’s▪VeteransAdministrationHospital

TREATMENT PROGRAMS

CommunityAwarenessandTreatmentServices▪DepartmentofPublicHealthRespiteCenter▪FriendshipHouseHarborLight▪HealthRIGHT360Programs▪SFGHPsychiatricInpatient▪SwordstoPlowsharesDeMontfortHouse▪VAPrograms

RESOURCE CENTERS

MSCSouth▪AWoman’sPlace▪UnitedCouncilofHumanServices

AteamoftrainedcurrentlyandformerlyhomelesssurveyorsadministeredsurveysonthestreetsofSanFranciscoandatvariousservicelocations.Wethankthemfortheirexcellentwork.

WethankthestaffofthePlanningUnitoftheHumanServicesAgencyforprovidingfeedbackandassistancetotheteamthroughouttheprojectincludingthedesignandproductionofmapsfortheunshelteredcount,projectmethodology,surveydevelopment,dataentrycoordination,reviewofthisreport,andthepresentationoffindings.

DataforthisreportwascollectedbyMeganOwens,LocalHomelessCoordinatingBoardPolicyAnalyst.DataanalysisandwritingwereconductedbyAppliedSurveyResearch.

APPLIED SURVEY RESEARCH

PROJECT DIRECTOR:PeterConneryPROJECT MANAGER:SamanthaGreenRESEARCH ANALYSTS:SusanBrutschy,CaseyConeway,JamesConnery,JohnConnery,LauraConnery,MelanieEspino,AmandaGonzales,KenIthiphol,SoniaPark,JavierSalcedo,DeannaZacharyGRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT:MichelleLuedtke

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey TableofContents


4

Table of ContentsIntroduction....................................................................6

Point‐in‐TimeCount.....................................................8

NumberandCharacteristicsofHomelessPersonsinSanFrancisco......................................8

TotalNumberofUnshelteredandShelteredHomelessPersons,byJurisdiction................10

HomelessSurveyFindings.......................................14

BasicDemographics............................................14

Age.....................................................................................14 2013n:924Source:AppliedSurveyResearch.2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount............15 GenderandSexualOrientation............................15 Race/Ethnicity.............................................................15 FosterCare....................................................................16

LivingAccommodations.....................................16

PlaceofResidence......................................................16 PreviousLivingArrangements.............................17 CurrentLivingArrangements...............................18

ShelterStays...........................................................18

AccesstoShelters.......................................................18 ObstaclestoObtainingPermanentHousing...19

DurationandRecurrenceofHomelessness19

NumberofTimesHomeless...................................19 DurationofHomelessness......................................20

PrimaryCausesofHomelessness...................20

ServicesandAssistance.....................................21

GovernmentAssistance...........................................21 ReasonsforNotReceivingGovernmentAssistance......................................................................22 ServicesandPrograms.............................................22

EmploymentandIncome..................................23

Employment..................................................................23

Income.............................................................................24 Panhandling..................................................................24

Health.........................................................................25

DisablingConditions.................................................25 PhysicalIllnessanddisabilities............................25 MentalHealthConditions.......................................26 Domestic/PartnerViolenceorAbuse................26 AccesstoMedicalCare.............................................26 EmergencyRoom ER Use....................................27

CriminalJusticeSystem......................................27

Incarceration................................................................28

HUDDefinedSubpopulations.................................29

ChronicHomelessness........................................29

PrevalenceofChronicHomelessness................30 UnshelteredvsShelteredChronicPopulation............................................................................................30 DemographicsofChronicallyHomelessnessSurveyRespondents..................................................31 HealthConditions.......................................................31 EmergencyRoomUse...............................................32 PrimaryCauseofHomelessnessfortheChronicallyHomeless...............................................32 AccesstoServicesamongChronicallyHomelessPersons......................................................32 Incarceration................................................................32

VeteranStatus.........................................................33

NumberofHomelessVeterans.............................33 DemographicsofHomelessVeterans................33 LengthofHomelessnessamongVeterans.......34 DisablingConditionsamongHomelessVeterans..........................................................................34 PrimaryCauseofHomelessnessforVeterans............................................................................................34

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey TableofContents


5

GovernmentAssistanceforHomelessVeterans..........................................................................35

HomelessFamilieswithChildren..................35

NumberofHomelessFamilieswithChildren..........................................................................35 CharacteristicsofHomelessFamilieswithChildren..........................................................................35 PrimaryCauseofHomelessnessforHomelessFamilieswithChildren.............................................36 UsualSleepingPlace..................................................36 GovernmentAssistanceforHomelessFamilieswithChildren................................................................36

2013SanFranciscoHomelessYouthCountSummary:UnaccompaniedChildrenandTransitionAgeYouth..........................................37

NumberandCharacteristics..................................38 PrimaryCauseofHomelessness..........................39 UsualSleepingPlaces................................................40 HealthandSocialBarriers......................................40 ServicesandSocialSupportNetworks.............41 2013SanFranciscoHomelessYouthCountandSurvey..............................................................................41

Conclusion......................................................................42

AppendixI:HomelessCount&SurveyMethodology.................................................................45

Overview........................................................................45 GeneralStreetCountMethodology....................46 YouthStreetCountMethodology........................48 ShelterandInstitutionCountMethodology...50 SurveyMethodology.................................................52

AppendixII:DefinitionsandAbbreviations......55

AppendixIII:Endnotes..............................................56

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey Introduction


6

Introduction Everytwoyears,duringthelasttendaysofJanuary,communitiesacrossthecountryconductcomprehensivecountsoftheirhomelesspopulationinordertogainabetterassessmentoftheindividualswhoarecurrentlyexperiencinghomelessness,andtoapplyforfederalfundingforhomelessprograms.

AlljurisdictionsreceivingfederalfundingtoprovidehousingandservicesforhomelessindividualsandfamiliesarerequiredbytheU.S.DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment HUD toconductabiennialPoint‐in‐Timecountofunshelteredandshelteredhomelesspersons.CurrentlytheSanFranciscoContinuumofCarereceivesover$23millioninfederalfunding,akeysourceoffundingforthecounty’shomelessservices.

ThePoint‐in‐Timecountmustincludeallunshelteredandshelteredhomelesspersonsstayinginemergencysheltersandtransitionalhousingprogramsonthedateofthecount.JurisdictionsreportthefindingsoftheirPoint‐in‐TimecountintheirannualfundingapplicationtoHUD.ThedatacollectedthroughPoint‐in‐TimecountsacrosstheUnitedStateshelpthefederalgovernmenttobetterunderstandthenatureandextentofhomelessnessnationwide.

SanFranciscohasworkedinconjunctionwithAppliedSurveyResearch ASR toconductthe2013SanFranciscoHomelessCountandSurvey.ASRisanon‐profitsocialresearchfirmwithofficesinSanJose,Claremont,andWatsonville,Calif.,withextensiveexperienceinhomelessenumerationandresearch.

TheSanFranciscohomelesscounthadtwoprimarycomponents:aPoint‐in‐Time

enumerationofunshelteredhomelessindividualsandfamilies thosesleepingoutdoors,onthestreet,inparks,orvehicles,etc. andaPoint‐in‐Timeenumerationofhomelessindividualsandfamilieswhohavetemporaryshelter thosestayinginanemergencyshelter,transitionalhousing,orusingstabilizationrooms .

The2013SanFranciscoPoint‐in‐TimeCountwasacity‐wideeffort.Withthesupportof334communityvolunteers,stafffromvariousCitydepartmentsandtheSanFranciscoPoliceDepartment,theentirecitywascanvassedbetweenthehoursof8p.m.andmidnightonJanuary24,2013.Thisresultedinavisualcountofunshelteredhomelessindividualsandfamiliesresidingonthestreets,invehicles,makeshiftshelters,encampmentsandotherplacesnotmeantforhumanhabitation.SheltersandfacilitiesreportedthenumberofhomelessindividualsandfamilieswhooccupiedtheirfacilitiesonthesameeveningofJanuary24,2013.

SanFranciscoconductedasupplementalcountofunaccompaniedchildrenandyouthundertheageof25yearsoldontheafternoonofJanuary24,2013.Thissupplementalcountwaspartofanation‐wideeffort,establishedandrecommendedbyHUD,tounderstandthescopeofyouthhomelessness.Theyouthcountwasconductedbetweenthehoursof1p.m.and5p.m.,whenunaccompaniedchildrenandyouthweremorelikelytobevisible.Thecountwasconductedbytrainedcurrentlyhomelessyouthenumerators.

Intheweeksfollowingthestreetcount,anin‐depthsurveywasadministeredto954

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey Introduction


7

unshelteredandshelteredhomelessindividualsofallages.

ThisreportprovidesdataregardingthenumberandcharacteristicsofhomelesspersonsinSanFrancisco.Thisreportfocusesspecialattentiononspecificsubpopulationsincludingchronicallyhomeless,veterans,families,unaccompaniedchildrenundertheageof18,andunaccompaniedyouth,alsoknownasTransitionalAgeYouth TAY ,betweentheagesof18‐24.

Tobetterunderstandthedynamicsofhomelessnessovertime,comparisonswiththeSanFranciscoHomelessCountandSurveyresultsfrompreviousyears,including2011areprovidedwhereavailableandapplicable.

DEFINITION OF HOMELESSNESS Inthisstudy,HUD’sdefinitionofhomelessnessforPoint‐in‐Timecountswasused.Thedefinitionincludesindividualsandfamilies:

» livinginasupervisedpubliclyorprivatelyoperatedshelterdesignatedtoprovidetemporarylivingarrangement,or

» withaprimarynighttimeresidencethatisapublicorprivateplacenotdesignedfororordinarilyusedasaregularsleepingaccommodationforhumanbeings,includingacar,park,abandonedbuilding,busortrainstation,airport,orcampingground1

ThisnarrowdefinitionofhomelessnessisincontrasttotheconsiderablybroaderdefinitionadoptedbytheCityandCountyofSanFrancisco.ThedefinitionofhomelessnessinSanFranciscoexpandsHUD’sdefinitiontoincludeindividualswhowere“doubled‐up”inthehomesoffamilyorfriends,stayinginjails,hospitals,andrehabilitationfacilities,familieslivinginSingleRoomOccupancy SRO units,

andinsub‐standardorinadequatelivingconditionsincludingovercrowdedspaces.Whilethisdataisbeyondthescopeofthisproject,informationonthoseresidinginjails,hospital,andrehabilitationfacilitiesweregatheredandareincludedinthisreportwhereapplicable.

PROJECT PURPOSE AND GOALS The2013PlanningCommitteeidentifiedseveralimportantprojectgoals:

» Topreservecurrentfederalfundingforhomelessservicesandtoenhancetheabilitytoraisenewfunds;

» Toimprovetheabilityofpolicymakersandserviceproviderstoplanandimplementservicesthatmeettheneedsofthelocalhomelesspopulation;

» Tomeasurechangesinthenumbersandcharacteristicsofthehomelesspopulationsincethe2011SanFranciscoHomelessCountandSurvey,andtotrackprogresstowardendinghomelessness;

» Toincreasepublicawarenessofoverallhomelessissuesandgeneratesupportforconstructivesolutions;and

» Toassessthestatusofspecificsubpopulationsincluding,veterans,families,unaccompaniedchildrenunder18,transitionalageyouth,andthosewhoarechronicallyhomeless

Itishopedthattheresultsofthisresearchwillassistserviceproviders,policymakers,funders,andlocal,state,andfederalgovernmentstobetterunderstandandplanfortheneedsofindividualsandfamiliesfacinghomelessness.

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey Point‐in‐TimeCount


8

Point-in-Time Count The2013Point‐in‐TimecountincludedacompleteenumerationofallunshelteredandpubliclyshelteredhomelesspersonslivinginSanFrancisco.ThegeneralstreetcountwasconductedonJanuary24,2013fromapproximately8p.m.tomidnightandcoveredall47squaremilesofSanFrancisco.Thesheltercountwasconductedonthesameeveningandincludedallindividualsstayingin:emergencyshelters,transitionalhousingfacilities,domesticviolenceshelters,andinstitutionalhousing.Thegeneralstreetcountandsheltercountmethodologyforenumerationwassimilartothe2011.

Inordertoimprovedataontheextentofyouthhomelessness,theDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment HUD requiredallcommunitiesconducting2013Point‐in‐Timecountstogatherinformationonthenumberandcharacteristicsofunaccompaniedchildren under18 andyouth ages18‐24 in2013.HUDandtheU.S.InteragencyCouncilonHomelessness USICH encouragedcommunitiestoconducttargetedyouthcounts.SanFranciscorosetothischallengeandusingbestpracticestrategiesforoutreachandenumeration,asupplementalyouthcountwasconductedduringtheafternoononJanuary24.

Number and Characteristics of Homeless Persons in San Francisco

Thenumberofindividualscountedinthe2013generalstreetcountandsheltercountwas6,436.Comparedto2011,thiswasadecreaseof19individuals.Thesupplementalyouthcountfoundanadditional914unaccompaniedchildrenandtransitionageyouth.Onlythestreetandsheltercountcanbecomparedto2011,butwhencombinedwiththenewyouthcount,thetotalnumberofunshelteredandshelteredpersonsresidinginSanFranciscoontheeveningofJanuary24,2013was7,350.

AnineyeartrendofcomparablePoint‐in‐TimedatafromgeneralCountefforts excludingthetargetedyouthcount identifiedonlyaslightincreaseinthenumberofpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessintheCity,a3%increasebetween2005and2013.

Figure 1. UNSHELTERED AND SHELTERED POINT-IN-TIME HOMELESS COUNT TREND

Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.

6,248 6,377 6,514 6,455 6,436

914

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2013 Youth Count



9

Approximately59%ofthoseallindividualscountedinthe2013SanFranciscoPoint‐in‐TimeCountwereunsheltered.Thenumberofunshelteredindividualswassignificantlyaffectedbythetargetedyouthcount.Eighty‐sevenpercentofyouthundertheageof25wereunshelteredin2013.

Figure 2. TOTAL NUMBER OF HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ENUMERATED DURING THE POINT-IN-TIME HOMELESS COUNT

(2011 AND 2013)

Source:SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency. 2011 .SanFranciscoShelteredandUnshelteredHomelessCount.SanFrancisco,CA.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.Watsonville,CA.Note:Shelteredandunshelteredtotalsincludenon‐HUDdefinedfacilitiesincludingjails,hospitals,andtreatmentcenters.

Ofthemorethan3,000individualscountedinthesheltercount,689persons 23% wereinnon‐traditionalsheltersettings.FourpercentoftheCity’shomelesspopulationwashousedinjailsandhospitalsonthenightofJanuary24,2013.ThenumberofhomelessinmatesreportedbytheSanFranciscoCountyJailonthenightofthePITcountwas317in2011,and126in2013 adifferenceof191people .Thiscontributedsignificantlytothevariancebetweenthe2011and2013proportionofshelteredpeople.

Figure 3. HOMELESS COUNT RESULTS (2013)

Single Adults 25 Years and Older

Unaccompanied Children and

Youth Under 25 Persons in Families Total % of Total

Street count 2,633 1,649 33 4,315 59% Emergency shelter and safe havens 1,187 65 374 1,626 22%

Transitional housing 262 186 272 720 10% Resource centers 112 0 0 112 2% Stabilization rooms 233 2 0 235 3% Treatment Programs 93 0 0 93 1% Jail 126 0 0 126 2% Hospitals 123 0 0 123 2% Total 4,769 1,902 679 7,350 - Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.Note:StreetCountincludesindividuals,personsinfamilies,aswellasthoseresidingincars,vans,RVs,andencampments.Note:Socialworkersorappropriatestaffcountedpatientswhoidentifiedashomelessinlocalhospitalsandtreatmentcenters.TheSanFranciscoJailreferencedbookingcardstodeterminehomelessstatus.

Ninety‐onepercentofthoseexperiencinghomelessnessweresingleindividuals.Morethan9%werepersonslivinginfamilies,asimilarbreakdownto2011.

3,106 3,349

6,455

3,401 3,035

6,436

914 914

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

Unsheltered Sheltered Total

2011

2013GeneralCount2013YouthCount



10

Figure 4. FAMILY STATUS OF TOTAL HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS ENUMERATED DURING THE POINT-IN-TIME HOMELESS

COUNT

Source:SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency. 2011 .SanFranciscoShelteredandUnshelteredHomelessCount.SanFrancisco,CA.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.Watsonville,CA.

Total Number of Unsheltered and Sheltered Homeless Persons, by Jurisdiction

The2013SanFranciscoHomelessCountdataarepresentedbelow,organizedbythe11CountySupervisorDistrictsinSanFrancisco.

Figure 5. TOTAL UNSHELTERED AND SHELTERED HOMELESS COUNT POPULATION BY DISTRICT AND FAMILY STATUS

(2013)

District

General Count Youth Count

Individuals Persons in Families

Total Persons

% of Total Individuals

Persons in Families

Total Persons

% of Total

1 239 21 260 4% 104 0 104 11% 2 20 0 20 <1% 4 0 4 <1% 3 190 0 190 3% 203 0 203 22% 4 136 0 136 2% 0 0 0 0% 5 107 52 159 2% 185 0 185 20% 6 2,576 462 3,038 47% 219 0 219 24% 7 19 0 19 <1% 0 0 0 0% 8 95 0 95 1% 68 0 68 7% 9 400 107 507 8% 53 11 64 7% 10 1,914 16 1,930 30% 4 0 4 <1% 11 52 0 52 1% 0 0 0 0% Confidential/Scattered Site Locations in San Francisco

20 10 30 <1% 63 0 63 7%

Total 5,768 668 6,436 100% 903 11 914 100% % of Total 90% 10% 100% - 99% 1% 100% - Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.

5,848

635

6,4555,768

668

6,436

90311

914

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

Single individuals Persons in families Total

2011

2013GeneralCount2013YouthCount



11

Asinpreviousyears,Districts6and10hadthegreatestnumberofunshelteredhomelessindividuals.Basedondatafromthe2013GeneralCount,Districts6and10representedroughly47%and30%oftheunshelteredandshelteredpopulation,respectively.District6neighborhoodsincludetheTenderloin,SouthofMarket SoMa andDistrict10includesthesoutheastcorridor,fromPotreroHilltoBayviewandHuntersPoint.

Figure 6. UNSHELTERED AND SHELTERED COUNT BY DISTRICT, GENERAL COUNT RESULTS

Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.Note:ThistableexcludesYouthCountdata.



12

ThetargetedyouthcountfocusedonlyonareasoftheCitywhereyouthwereknowntocongregate.Theyouthcountwasconductedbypeerenumerators.Theireffortsfocusedoncountingonlythoseinthetargetedagegroupandinareaswhereyouthwouldnotbeseenduringthegeneralcountoutreach.Thetablebelowdetailstheimpactofthetargetedyouthcountineachsupervisorialdistrict.HomelessyouthtendedtobeseeninDistricts9,8,6,5,and3.

Figure 7. UNSHELTERED HOMELESS COUNT RESULTS GENERAL AND YOUTH COUNT COMPARISONS

District 2011 2013

General Count Youth Count Total 1 106 217 104 321

2 35 20 4 24

3 188 160 203 363

4 83 136 0 136

5 180 99 185 284

6 1,001 1,145 219 1,364

7 36 19 0 19

8 108 95 68 163

9 124 183 64 247

10 1,151 1,274 4 1,278

11 69 40 0 40

Confidential/Scattered Site Locations in San Francisco

27 13 63 76

Total 3,106 3,401 914 4,315 Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency. 2011 .SanFranciscoUnshelteredHomelessCount.SanFrancisco,CA.



13

Trenddataoftheunshelteredpopulationbydistrictshowedincreasesinmanydistricts.Whiletheyouthcountaccountedformanyofthesechanges,thedistributionoftheCity’sunshelteredpopulationdidalterslightlybetween2011and2013.Districts2,7,and11sawdecreasesintheirunshelteredpopulationsbetweenthetwoyears.Meanwhile,District1morethantripledbetweenJanuary2011andJanuary2013,andDistricts3and9almostdoubled.

Figure 8. UNSHELTERED HOMELESS COUNT RESULTS COMPARISON 2001-2013

District 2007 Total

2009 Total

2011 Total

2013 General Count

Youth Count Total

1 218 120 106 217 104 321 2 81 60 35 20 4 24 3 206 189 188 160 203 363 4 70 74 83 136 0 136 5 114 115 180 99 185 284 6 1,239 1,167 1,001 1,145 219 1,364 7 21 45 36 19 0 19 8 190 92 108 95 68 163 9 200 132 124 183 64 247 10 349 444 1,151 1,274 4 1,278 11 20 43 69 40 0 40 Confidential/ Scattered Site Locations in San Francisco

63 - 27 13 63 76

Total 2,771 2,709 3,106 3,401 914 4,315 Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency. 2011 .SanFranciscoUnshelteredHomelessCount.SanFrancisco,CA.SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency. 2009 .SanFranciscoShelteredandUnshelteredHomelessCount.SanFrancisco,CA.SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency. 2007 .SanFranciscoShelteredandUnshelteredHomelessCount.SanFrancisco,CA.Note:Foryearspriorto2011CityofSanFranciscoincludesthenumbersreportedinparksandbyCaliforniaDepartmentofHighwayPatrol.In2011and2013,thesenumberswerereportedbydistrict.

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey HomelessSurveyFindings


14

Homeless Survey FindingsThemethodologyusedforthe2013homelesscountisdescribedby HUD asa“blitzcount”,followedbyanin‐personrepresentativesurvey.Thistwostagemethodincludesanobservationalhomelesscountfollowedbyasurveysamplingeffort.Thesurveysampleisthenusedtoprofileandestimatetheconditionandcharacteristicsofthecity’shomelesspopulationandsubpopulationsforthepurposesofHUDreportingandlocalservicedeliveryandstrategicplanning.Theresultsofthe“blitz”countandthehomelesssheltercount,combinedwiththesurveyarethefoundationaldataelementsforalldatadiscussedinthefollowingreport.

Thissectionprovidesanoverviewofthefindingsgeneratedfromthe2013SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.SurveyswereadministeredafterthecompletionofthePoint‐in‐Timecount,betweenJanuary28thandMarch11th,2013.Thesurveyeffortresultedin952completeanduniquesurveys.

BasedonaPoint‐in‐Timecountof7,350homelessindividuals including914youth ,these952completedsurveysrepresentaconfidenceintervalof /‐3%witha95%confidencelevelwhengeneralizingtheresultsofthesurveytotheestimatedpopulationofhomelessindividualsinSanFrancisco.2Inotherwords,ifthesurveywereconductedagain,wecanbeconfidentthattheresultswouldbewithin3percentagepointsofthecurrentresults.

Inordertoensureamorerepresentativesample,garneringinformationfromsubpopulationsthatareoftenhiddenorhardtoreach,effortsweremadetotargetrespondentsbasedonlivingaccommodation,age,andgeographiclocation.

Figure 9. SURVEY SAMPLE (2013)

Count

Population Survey

Population Age 18-24 26% 17% Families 11% 7% Sheltered 41% 33% Total Population 7,350 952

Basic Demographics

InordertogainamorecomprehensiveunderstandingoftheexperiencesofhomelessresidentsinSanFrancisco,respondentswereaskedbasicdemographicquestionsincludingage,gender,sexualorientation,andethnicity.

Age

In2013,youthundertheageof25yearsoldweretargetedbyboththecountandsurveyefforts.Thistargetedoutreachresultedinanincreasednumberofsurveyrespondents17% fallingwithintheTransitionalAgeYouthcategoryof18‐24yearsold.Thehighestpercentagesofrespondents 29% werebetweentheagesof31and40,followedbythosewhowere41‐50yearsold 26% .



15

Figure 10. SURVEY RESPONDENTS AGE, 2013

2013n:924Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.

Gender and Sexual Orientation

Morethantwothirdsofsurveyrespondentsidentifiedasmale 69% ,with27%female,and3%transgender.

The2013surveymarkedthefirstyearrespondentswereaskedtoidentifytheirsexualorientation.Seventy‐onepercentofhomelesssurveyrespondentsidentifiedasstraight.Morethanoneinfourrespondents29% identifiedaslesbian,gay,bisexualor“other” LGBTQ ,including16%identifyingasbisexualand11%asgayorlesbian.ThiswashigherthanthegeneralSanFranciscopopulationwithapproximately15%identifyingasLGBTQaccordingto2013SanFranciscoCityandCountyControllerstudy.3

WhencomparinghomelessrespondentswhoidentifiedasLGBTQtostraightrespondents,therewasgreaterethnicdiversityintheLGBTQpopulationandahigherpercentageofindividualslivingoutofstatewhentheymostrecentlybecamehomeless 17%comparedto13% .LGBTQrespondentshadmorefrequentepisodesofhomelessnessinthelast12monthswith66%havingmorethanoneepisode,ascomparedto57%forstraighthomelessrespondents.LGBTQrespondentshadhigherpercentagesofHIV/AIDS 16%

comparedto5% andhigherpercentagesofsubstanceabusedisorders 49%comparedto41% .Othersurveydataweresimilarbetweenthetwopopulations.

Race/Ethnicity

Twenty‐ninepercentofsurveyrespondentsidentifiedasWhite/Caucasian,followedby26%whoidentifiedasHispanic/Latinoand24%asBlack/AfricanAmericanin2013.IncomparisontotheoverallpopulationofSanFrancisco,therewereadisproportionatenumberofHispanic/LatinoandBlack/AfricanAmericansexperiencinghomelessness.TheoverallSanFranciscopopulationwas16%Hispanic/Latinoin2013,butthepercentageofhomelessrespondentsidentifyingasHispanic/Latinowas26%.Similarly,6%oftheoverallpopulationwasBlack/African‐Americanin2013,whilethepercentageofhomelessrespondentswas24%Black/African‐American.

1%

17%10%

29% 26%14%

3%0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

14-17 18 - 24 25 - 30 31 - 40 41 - 50 51 - 60 61 or older



16

Figure 11. TOP 5 RACES/ETHNICITIES

2013n:945;2011n:1012Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency. 2011 .SanFranciscoUnshelteredHomelessCount.SanFrancisco,CA.CaliforniaDepartmentofFinances. 2013 .P‐3:StateandCountyTotalPopulationProjectionsbyRace/EthnicityandDetailedAge,2010‐2060.RetrievedApril2013fromhttp://www.dof.ca.gov/

Foster Care

Ithasbeenestimatedthat12millionpersonsintheUnitedStateshavebeeninthefostercaresystem,thisrepresentsabout4%ofthegeneralpopulation.4However,researchershaverepeatedlynotedtheconnectionsbetweenfostercareandhomelessness.

Eighteenpercentof2013respondentsreportedhavingbeeninthefostercaresystem.Thiswashigherthanin2011 13% butsimilarto2009 17% .Ofthosewhoreportedhavingbeeninthefostercaresystem,28%hadbeeninthesystemformorethantenyearsand14%hadbeeninthesystemforlessthanoneyear,similarto2011data.Thepercentageofyouthundertheageof25whohadbeeninfostercarewasmuchhigherthanadultsover25yearsold.Oneinfouryouthsurveyrespondentsreportedhavingbeeninthefostercaresystem.

Living Accommodations

Whereanindividuallivedpriortoexperiencinghomelessnessandwheretheyhavelivedsince,affectsthewaypeopleseekservicesandhelpstodeterminetheirwell‐being.Surveyrespondentsreportedmanydifferentlivingaccommodationspriortobecominghomeless,thoughmostlivedinoraroundtheSanFranciscoBayAreawithfriends,family,orontheirowninahomeorapartment.

Place of Residence

Thirty‐ninepercentofrespondentsreportedhavinglivedoutsidetheCityatthetimetheymostrecentlybecamehomeless,anincreasefrom27%in2011.OfthoselivingintheCityatthetimetheymostrecentlybecamehomeless,63%reportedhavinglivedintheCityforthreeormoreyears.

35%

12%

39%

7% 5%

29% 26% 24%16%

5%

42%

16%6% 4%

34%

0%

25%

50%

75%

100%

White/Caucasian

Hispanic/Latino

Black/African

American

Other/Multi-ethnic

Asian/Pacific Islander

2011

2013

2013 SanFranciscoGeneralPopulation



17

Oneinfour 24% respondentsreportedtheywerelivinginadifferentCaliforniacountyatthetimetheymostrecentlybecamehomeless,upfrom16%in2011.Yet,many2013respondentsreportedthattheyhadnottraveledfar.SixpercentreportedtheywerelivinginAlamedaCounty,3%inSanMateoCounty,2%inSantaClaraCounty,2%inContraCostaCountyand2%inMarinCounty.

OfthosewhoreportedtheywerenotlivingintheCity,theyreportedmovingtotheCityformanydifferentreasons.Themostfrequentlycitedwere:workorajob 17% ,accesstohomelessservices14% ,andvisitedanddecidedtostay 14% .Otherresponsesincluded:passingthrough 11% ,friendsorfamily 10% ,gotstranded 7% ,andbornorgrewupintheCity 7% .

2013Residencyn:927

Previous Living Arrangements

Thirty‐eightpercentofrespondentsreportedstayingwithfriendsorfamilyimmediatelypriortobecominghomeless.Thirty‐fivepercentreportedlivinginahomeownedorrentedbythemselvesortheirpartner.

Fourpercentofrespondentsreportedtheywereinajail/prisonorajuvenilejusticefacilitypriortobecominghomeless.Lessthan3%wereinahospitalortreatmentfacility,andlessthan1%reporteddirectlyexitingfromfostercareintohomelessness.



18

Current Living Arrangements

Seventy‐ninepercentofrespondentsreportedlivingalone.Ofthosewholivedwithsomeone,thelargestpercentagelivedwithaspouseorsignificantother 62% ,withachild/children 45% ,otherfamilymembers 12% oraparent 3% .

Oneinthreerespondents 34% reportedusuallysleepingoutdoors,eitheronthestreetorinparksorencampmentareasin2013.Anadditionalone‐third 33% reportedthattheyusuallylivedinanemergencyshelter,transitionalhousingfacilityorothershelterenvironment.Thirteenpercentofsurveyrespondentsreportedlivingincars,vans,RVsorcampers,upfrom3%in2011.

Figure 12. USUAL PLACES TO SLEEP AT NIGHT (TOP 5 RESPONSES)

2013n:943;2011n:1,006Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency. 2011 .SanFranciscoUnshelteredHomelessCount.SanFrancisco,CA.

Shelter Stays

Access to Shelters

ThecurrentemergencyshelterreservationsysteminSanFranciscoiscalledCHANGES.Individualsmayattempttoreserveashelterbedbygoinginpersontooneoftheshelterreservationsitesandreservingaspaceuntilallavailablespacesarefilled.Unclaimedspacesareavailableforreservationdailyattheshelterreservationsitesafter4:30pm.

FortypercentofsurveyrespondentsreportedtheywereabletomakereservationsthroughCHANGESwhentheysoughtthem,andanadditional25%reportedbeingabletomakereservationssomeofthetime.Ofthosewhoreportedtheywereabletomakereservations,17%reportedtheyreceivedtraveltokens.

13%

7%

13%

34%

33%

3%

8%

6%

28%

39%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Vehicle (Car/Van/RV/Camper)

Motel/Hotel

A structure or indoor area notnormally used for sleeping

Outdoors/ streets/ parks/encampments

Emergency, transitional, or othershelter

2011

2013



19

Obstacles to Obtaining Permanent Housing

Themostcommonlycitedobstaclestoobtainingpermanenthousingwereassociatedwitheconomicfactors.Morethanhalf 55% reportednotbeingabletoaffordrent,followedby52%whocitedalackofincomeorajob,and29%whodidnothavethemoneyformovingcosts.Anincreasedpercentageofrespondentsreportedthattherewasnohousingavailable,from8%in2011to23%in2013.

Figure 13. OBSTACLES TO PERMANENT HOUSING (TOP 5 RESPONSES IN 2013)

2013:901respondentsoffering2,555responses2011:987respondentsoffering1,572responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.SanFranciscoHumanServicesAgency. 2011 .SanFranciscoUnshelteredHomelessCount.SanFrancisco,CA.

Duration and Recurrence of Homelessness

Formany,theexperienceofhomelessnessispartofalongandrecurringhistoryofresidentialinstability.Individualsmayfallinandoutofhomelessnessastheyassembledifferentsubsistencestrategiesandhousingopportunities.

Number of Times Homeless

Almosthalf 48% ofsurveyrespondentsreportedtheywereexperiencinghomelessnessforthefirsttimein2013,adecreasefrom53%in2011.Ofthosewhowerenotexperiencinghomelessnessforthefirsttime,41%reportedtheyhadexperiencedhomelessnessfourormoretimesinthepastthreeyears.

Figure 14. FIRST TIME HOMELESS

2013n:454;2011n:541Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.

52%

31%18%

8% 6%

55% 52%

29%23% 19%

0%

50%

100%

Can't afford rent No job/income No money formoving costs

No housingavailable

Bad Credit

2011

2013

48%

53%

0% 50% 100%

Firs

t Tim

e H

omel

ess

2011

2013



20

Duration of Homelessness

Morethanhalf 54% ofrespondentsreportedtheyhadbeenwithouthousingforoneyearormore.

Thelengthoftimesurveyrespondentsreportedbeinghomelesswassimilartopreviousyears.Therewereslightincreasesinthenumberofpersonswhoreportedtheyhadbeenhomelessforsevenmonthsormore,however.

Figure 15. LENGTH OF CURRENT EPISODE OF

HOMELESSNESS

2013n:944;2011:950Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.

Primary Causes of Homelessness

Anindividual’sexperiencewithhomelessnessisoftentheresultofmultipleandcompoundingcausesoriginatingatboththeindividualandsocietallevel.

Inastrugglingeconomy,manyfacefinancialvulnerabilitytohomelessness.Whenaskedtoidentifytheprimarycauseoftheirhomelessness,29%reportedthelossofajob,16%reportedhavinganargumentwithafriendorfamilymemberwhoaskedthemtoleave,and11%reportedalcoholordruguse.

Whileitwasnotoneofthetopthreeresponses,6%ofthosesurveyedreporteddivorce,separationorbreakupscausedtheirhomelessness.Lessthan1%reportedforeclosureastheprimarycauseofhomelessness.

Figure 16. PRIMARY CAUSE OF HOMELESSNESS (TOP 3 RESPONSES IN 2013)

2013:931respondentsoffering1,057responses;2011:1,008respondentsSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.

8%

25%

14%

54%

8%

30%

11%

51%

0% 50% 100%

30 days orfewer

2-6 months

7-11 months

1 year ormore

20112013

20%4%

25%11% 16%

29%

0%

50%

100%

Alcohol/drug use Argument/family or friendasked you to leave

Lost job

20112013



21

Services and Assistance

SanFranciscoprovidesservicesandassistancetothosecurrentlyexperiencinghomelessnessthroughfederalandlocalprograms.Governmentassistanceandhomelessservicesworktoenablethoseexperiencinghomelessnesstoobtainincomeandsupport.However,manyindividualsandfamiliesdonotapplyforservicesorbelievethattheydonotqualifyforassistance.

Government Assistance

Theprevalenceandtypesofgovernmentassistancereceivedbysurveyrespondentsin2013wassimilartothoseofrespondentsin2011.Morethanhalfofsurveyrespondents 54% reportedreceivinggovernmentassistancein2013.Thelargestpercentage 33% reportedreceivingCalFresh foodstamps andWIC women,infants,andchildrenfoodassistance in2013.

NineteenpercentreportedreceivingGeneralAssistance,aslightdecreasefrom2011.ThirteenpercentreportedhavingSSI,SSDI,ornon‐veterandisabilitybenefits,downfrom22%in2011.EightpercenthadMedi‐Cal/Medi‐Care,5%gotTANF TemporaryAssistanceforNeedyFamilies ,and4%reportedreceivingVeteransDisabilityCompensation.

Figure 17. TYPES OF GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE RECEIVED (TOP 5 RESPONSES IN 2013)

2013:917respondentsoffering1,182responses;2011:928respondentsoffering1,219responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.Note:CAAPisSanFrancisco’sCountyAdultAssistanceProgram

31%23% 22%

9% 2%

33%19% 13% 8% 5%

0%

50%

100%

FoodStamps/WIC

CAAP/GeneralAssistance

SSI/SSDI Medi-Cal/Medi-Care

CalWorks/TANF

2011

2013



22

Reasons for Not Receiving Government Assistance

Thetoptworeasonsfornotreceivinggovernmentassistanceincluded:respondentsdidn’tthinktheywereeligible 35% andtheydidnotwantassistance 30% .Thepercentageofrespondentswhodidnotthinktheywereeligiblemorethandoubled,from14%in2011to35%in2013.

Theincreasedsamplingofyouthundertheageof25hadsomeeffectonthefrequencyofcertainresponseoptions.Comparedtotheiradultcounterparts,feweryouthreportedtheydidnotthinktheywereeligibleforassistance 16%comparedto39% ,andmorereportedtheydidnotwantgovernmentassistance 36%comparedto29% .

Figure 18. REASONS FOR NOT RECEIVING GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE (TOP 5 RESPONSES IN 2013)

2013:406respondentsoffering515responses;2011:230respondentsoffering301responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.Note:Between2011and2013theresponseoptionchangedfrom“donotneed”to“donotwant.”

Services and Programs

Theuseofemergencyshelterservicesdeclinedfromalmosthalfofrespondents 47% in2011tojustone‐thirdofrespondents 33% in2013.However,therewereincreasesinthepercentageofrespondentsusingotherservicesfrom2011to2013includingfreemeals from55%to59% ,shelterdayservices from12%to18% ,healthservices from18%to26% andmentalhealthsupport from14%to16% .

Figure 19. SERVICES OR ASSISTANCE (TOP 5 RESPONSES IN 2013)

2013:896respondentsoffering1,992responses;2011:978respondentsoffering2,047responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.

14% 7%24%

10% 4%

35% 30%18% 11% 6%

0%

50%

100%

Don't think I'meligible

Don’t want government assistance*

Never applied Have noidentification

Immigrationissues

2011

2013

55%47%

18% 12% 14%

59%

33% 26% 18% 16%

0%

50%

100%

Free meals Emergencyshelter

Health services Shelter dayservices

Mental healthservices

2011

2013



23

Employment and Income

Whilethemajorityofhomelesssurveyrespondentsreportedbeingunemployed,somehadpart‐timeorfull‐timework.Manywerereceivinganincome,eitherpublicorprivate.Yet,datasuggestthatemploymentandincomewerenotenoughtomeetbasicneeds.

Employment

TheunemploymentrateinSanFranciscoinJanuary2013was6.9%,downfrom9.5%in2011.5Thisraterepresentsonlythosewhoareunemployedandactivelyseekingemployment.Itdoesn’trepresentalljoblessness.Theunemploymentrateforhomelessrespondentswas62%.Twenty‐twopercentofrespondentsreportedworkingfull‐time,part‐time,seasonal,temporary,orcasualemployment.

Ofthosewhowereunemployed,theprimarybarrierstoemploymentincludedmanybasicneeds,suchasaphone 28% ,andclothingorshowerfacilities 27% .Whilenotinthetopfiveresponses,mentalhealthconditions 20% ,healthconditions 18% ,anddisabilities 19% wereeachreportedbyrespondentsasabarriertoemploymentin2013.

Figure 20. RESPONDENTS’ BARRIERS TO OBTAINING EMPLOYMENT

2013:560respondentsoffering1,624responses;2011:931respondentsoffering2,046responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.Note:Responseoptionschangedbetween2011and2013.

2011 2013

1 Neededucation/training

27% Nophone 28%

2 Nopermanentaddress22%

Neededucation/training28%

3 Needclothing/shower

facilities 17% Needclothing/shower

facilities 27%

4 Nojobs 16% Alcoholordruguse 25%

5 Alcoholordruguse 14% Nojobs 24%



24

Income

Thirty‐ninepercentofrespondentsreportedtheydidnothaveanyformofincomefromprivateorpublicsources,37%hadanincomefromgovernmentbenefitsand20%hadincomesfromprivatesources.

Overalltheserespondents’incomewashighlyvariable.Theiraveragemonthlyincomewaslargelydependentontheiremploymentstatusandwhetherornottheywerereceivinggovernmentbenefits.Whilethemeanincomefrombothgovernmentandnon‐governmentsourcesforthosewhowereemployedwas$909dollarspermonth,theseindividualswereonly35%ofthepopulation.Mostrespondentswereunemployed,withameanincomeof$568permonth.

Itisimportanttonotethatjust54%ofallrespondents 517people reportedtheamountofincometheywerereceivingfromgovernmentand/ornon‐governmentsources.

EMPLOYMENT AND MEAN MONTHLY INCOME

Panhandling

Somesurveyrespondentswhoreportedincomefromnon‐governmentsourcescitedpanhandlingasthesourceofthatincome.Whenaskedspecificallyaboutpanhandling,34%ofsurveyrespondentsreportedtheydidpanhandle.Ofthosewhopanhandled,theaverageamounttheyreceivedperdaywas$6.37.Panhandlingwaslesscommonamongthosewhowereexperiencinghomelessnessforthefirsttime.Ofthosewhoreportedpanhandling,64%reportedhavingbeenhomelessforoneyearormore.

Employed,35%

Unemployed,65%

Employed Unemployed Total Mean

income n Mean income n Mean

income n

Income from government sources

$558.24 337 $566.29 38 $565.80 375

Income from non-government sources

$862.94 118 $507.06 50 $606.60 168

Income from all sources $908.57 440 $567.96 77 $607.50 517

Employmentstatusn 905Incomen 482Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey HomelessSurveyFindingsHomelessSurveyFindings


25

Health

Withoutregularaccesstohealthcare,individualssufferpreventableillness,longerhospitalizations,andahigherrateofprematuredeath.AstudyconductedbyNationalHealthCarefortheHomelessfoundthattheaveragelifeexpectancyforapersonwithoutpermanenthousingwasbetween42and52yearsold.That’smorethan25yearsyoungerthanthelifeexpectancyoftheaveragepersonintheUnitedStates.Itisestimatedthatthoseexperiencinghomelessnessstayfourdays or36% longerperhospitaladmissionthannon‐homelesspatients.6

Disabling Conditions

Almosttwooutofthreerespondents 63% reportedoneormultipledisablingconditions.Theseconditionsincludedchronicphysicalillness,physicalormentaldisabilities,chronicsubstanceabuseandseverementalhealthconditions.Thirty‐sevenpercentofsurveyrespondentswithadisablingconditionreportedtheirconditionlimitedtheirabilitytotakecareofpersonalmattersorgetorkeepajobin2013.

Physical Illness and disabilities

Morethanoneinfour 26% surveyrespondentsreportedtheywerecurrentlyexperiencingsomeformofachronicphysicalillness.Including:11%ofrespondentswhoreportedhepatitisC,6%reportedAIDSorHIV,and1%reportedhavingtuberculosis.Ninepercentofrespondentsreportedaphysicaldisabilityin2013,comparedto30%in2011.2013wasthefirsttimerespondentswereaskedabouttraumaticbraininjuryand2%reportedhavingit.Twenty‐ninepercentofrespondentsreportedasubstanceabusedisorderin2013.

Figure 21. DISABLING PHYSICAL CONDITIONS

2013:902respondentsoffering1,643responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.Note:Mentalillnessincludesbipolardisorder,schizophreniaandothermentalillnesses;itdoesnotincludePTSDordepressionasthoseconditionsarereportedseparately.

31%18%

30%

5% 7%

29% 26%9% 6% 3% 2%

0%

50%

100%

Substanceabuse

Chronichealth

problems

Physicaldisability

HIV/AIDSrelatedillness

Develop-mental

disability

Traumaticbrain injury

20112013

N/A

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey HomelessSurveyFindingsHomelessSurveyFindings


26

Mental Health Conditions

Morethanoneinthreerespondents 37% reportedhavingaseverementalhealthcondition.Twenty‐ninepercentofthehomelessrespondentsreportedchronicdepressionin2013,in2011,42%.Twenty‐twopercentof2013respondentsreportedaspecificmentalillness suchasbipolarandschizophrenia ,and15%percentreportedPost‐traumaticStressDisorder PTSD ,similarto2011.

Figure 22. DISABLING MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

2013:902responsesoffering1,378responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.Note:Othermentalillnessincludesbipolardisorder,schizophreniaandothermentalillnesses;itdoesnotincludePTSDorchronicdepressionasthoseconditionsarereportedseparately

Domestic/Partner Violence or Abuse

Fivepercentofallsurveyrespondentsreportedtheywerecurrentlyexperiencingdomestic/partnerviolenceorabuse.Fifteenpercentoffemalerespondentsreporteddomestic/partnerviolenceasaprimarycauseoftheirhomelessness;however,whenlookingathomelessrespondentsinfamilies,thatpercentagejumpedto27%.Infact,domesticviolencewasthemostfrequentlycitedcauseofhomelessnessamongsurveyrespondentslivinginfamilies.

Whenanalyzedbygender,12%ofallwomenrespondentsand2%ofallmenwerecurrentlyexperiencingdomesticviolence.

Althoughdomesticviolenceisconsistentlyunderreported,thesepercentagesforthehomelesssurveyrespondentsaremuchhigherthanthegeneralU.S.population,inwhich1.8%ofwomenreportedrape,physicalassaultsandbeingstalkedinthelast12months.7

Access to Medical Care

Oneinfour 24% surveyrespondentsreportedneedingmedicalcareinthelastyearbutgoingwithoutitbecausetheywereunabletoreceiveit.Another37%reportedtheyhadnotneededcareinthelastyear.

Forty‐sevenpercentofrespondentsreportedthattheirusualsourceofcarewasacommunityclinicorfreepublichealthclinicsand26%usedtheemergencyroomastheirusualsourceofcare,adecreasefrom39%in2011.

29%

15%

22%

42%

18%

28%

0% 50% 100%

ChronicDepression

PTSD

Other MentalIllness

2011

2013



27

Figure 23. USUAL SOURCE OF MEDICAL CARE

2013:n 891;2011:n 942Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.

Emergency Room (ER) Use

ASanFranciscostudyofERuseamongthoseexperiencinghomelessnessshowshomelessindividuals,comparedtothegeneralpopulation,arethreetimesmorelikelytouseanemergencydepartmentatleastonceinayearandhomelessnessisassociatedwithrepeatedemergencydepartmentuse.8Emergencyroomuseiscostlytothepublichealthcaresystemandmayresultinovercrowding.

Forty‐threepercentofsurveyrespondentsreportedhavingusedtheemergencyroomoneormoretimesinthe12monthspriortothesurvey,while57%neverusedit.Approximately31%ofrespondentsusedtheERonetothreetimes,and4%usedittenormoretimes.

Figure 24. USE OF THE EMERGENCY ROOM IN THE LAST YEAR

2013n:766;2011n:773Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville.

Criminal Justice System

5%

6%

19%

26%

28%

5%

6%

17%

39%

13%

0% 50% 100%

Urgent care clinic

VA Hospital/clinic

Public health clinic

Hospitalemergency room

Free/communityclinic

2011

2013

52%

16% 13%7% 5% 2% 5%

57%

15% 12%5% 4% 2%

6%

0%

50%

100%

Never 1 time 2 times 3 times 4 times 5 times 6+ times

2011

2013



28

Individualsleavingjailorprisonfaceamuchhigherriskofhomelessnessduetogreaterdifficultiesfindingemploymentandhousing.Atthesametime,thoseexperiencinghomelessnessaremorevulnerabletoincarceration.9

Incarceration

Seventeenpercentofrespondentsreportedtheywereonprobationorparoleatthetimeofthesurvey,thoughonly12%reportedtheywereonprobationorparolepriortotheirhomelessness.

Thirtypercentofsurveyrespondentshadspentanightinjailorprisoninthe12monthspriortothesurvey.However,11%hadbeenincarceratedforfivedaysorfewer.

Figure 25. NUMBER OF NIGHTS SPENT IN JAIL OR PRISON IN THE YEAR PRIOR TO THE SURVEY

2011:n 766;2013:n 953Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.AppliedSurveyResearch. 2011 .SanFranciscoHomelessSurvey.Watsonville,CA.

70%

15%4% 3% 2% 6%

70%

11% 5% 4% 5% 6%0%

50%

100%

0 nights 1-5 nights 6-10 nights 11-20 nights 21-50 nights More than 50nights

2011

2013

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey HUDDefinedSubpopulations


29

HUD Defined Subpopulations In2010,thefederalgovernmentidentifiedthreeprimarysubpopulationstofocusoninordertomovetowardsthegoalofendinghomelessness.ThesubpopulationsinthefederalplanknownasOpeningDoors:FederalStrategicPlantoPreventandEndHomelessnessincludedthechronicallyhomeless,veterans,andfamilies.Sincethattime,theUnitedStatesInteragencyCouncilonHomelessness USICH releasedanamendmenttoOpeningDoors,whichfocusesonpreventingandendingyouthhomelessness.The2013SanFranciscoHomelessCountandSurveyemphasizegatheringdataforeachoftheseHUDdefinedsubpopulations.Ofthe952surveyscompletedin2013,300werecompletedbychronicallyhomelessindividuals,105byhomelessveterans,75byindividualsinhomelessfamilies,and169byunaccompaniedchildrenandtransitionageyouth.

Chronic Homelessness

Themortalityrateforthoseexperiencingchronichomelessnessisfourtoninetimeshigherthanthegeneralpopulation.Thepubliccostincurredbythoseexperiencingextendedperiodsofhomelessnessincludeemergencyroomvisits,interactionswithlawenforcement,incarceration,andregularaccesstoexistingpovertyandhomelessservices.

TheUSICHreportedthat16%ofthenationalhomelesspopulationwaschronicallyhomelessin2012or99,834chronicallyhomelessindividuals.10Thefederalstrategicplantoendhomelessnessincludesaplantoendchronichomelessnessby2015byfocusingonpermanentsupportivehousingforthosewiththegreatestneedsandbarrierstohousingstability.



30

Prevalence of Chronic Homelessness

Thepercentageofsurveyrespondentswhometthedefinitionofchronichomelessnessremainedrelativelystablebetween2011and2013.In2011,33%ofrespondentswerechronicallyhomeless,comparedto31%in2013.Between2009and2011theproportionofsurveyrespondentswhowerechronicallyhomelessdecreasedsignificantly:from62%in2009to33%in2011.Ofthosewhowereidentifiedaschronicallyhomelessin2013,116werelivinginfamilies,and1,977weresingleindividualslivingontheirown.

Unsheltered vs Sheltered Chronic Population

Morethanthreequarters 77% ofchronicallyhomelessrespondentswereunshelteredatthetimeofthesurvey,upfrom69%in2011.Thelargestpercentagereportedlivingoutdoors,onthestreet,inparks,orinencampmentareas.

Seventeenpercentofthosewhowerechronicallyhomelessreportedlivingintheirvehicle,asubstantialincreasefromthe2%reportedin2011.However,overallrespondentslivinginvehiclesweremorecommonin2013.

Figure 26. PREVIOUS LIVING ARRANGEMENTS

2013n:296;2011n:331Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.

2%

4%

6%

17%

23%

44%

0%

2%

6%

2%

25%

47%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Public Facility

A place in a house not normally used forsleeping

Motel/hotel

Vehicle

Emergency Shelter

Outdoors/streets/parks/encampments2011

2013



31

Demographics of Chronically Homelessness Survey Respondents

Themajorityofchronicallyhomelessindividualsweremale 76% ,slightlyhigherthanthenon‐chronicallyhomelesspopulation 66% .Theracialandethnicbreakdownofthoseexperiencingchronichomelessnesswasgenerallysimilartothatofthenon‐chronicallyhomelesspopulation,exceptforaslightlyhigherpercentageofchronicallyhomelessrespondentswhoidentifiedasWhite/Caucasian 33% ,ascomparedto28%inthenon‐chronicpopulation.Thirteenpercentofchronicallyhomelessrespondentswereidentifiedasveterans.

Health Conditions

Whilethedefinitionofchronichomelessnessislimitedtothoseexperiencingadisablingcondition,61%ofchronicallyhomelesssurveyrespondentsreportedexperiencingtwoormore.Thepercentageofthoseexperiencingmultipleconditionswaslowerthanin2011 75% .

Of2013respondents,thegreatestpercentagesreportedhavingchronicdepression 46% andchronichealthproblems 44% ,followedbymentalillness 37% .TenpercentreportedhavingHIV/AIDS,thiswasmuchhigherthanthenon‐chronicsurveypopulation 4% .

Figure 27. PERCENTAGE OF CHRONICALLY HOMELESS RESPONDENTS WHO WERE EXPERIENCING THE FOLLOWING

DISABLING CONDITIONS

2013:multipleresponsequestionwith300respondentsoffering686responses.Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.Note:Mentalillnessincludesbipolardisorder,schizophreniaandothermentalillnesses;itdoesnotincludePTSDorchronicdepressionasthoseconditionsarereportedseparately.

10%

3%

37%

20%

44%

12%

46%

8%

16%

55%

33%

35%

53%

74%

0% 50% 100%

HIV/AIDS related illness

Developmental disability

Mental illness*

PTSD

Chronic health problems

Physical disability

Chronic Depression 2011

2013



32

Emergency Room Use

Fifty‐twopercentofchronicallyhomelesssurveyrespondentsreportedhavingusedtheemergencyroomoneormoretimesinthe12monthspriortothesurvey,ascomparedto38%ofthenon‐chronicpopulation.

Primary Cause of Homelessness for the Chronically Homeless

Theprimarycausesofhomelessnessamongchronicallyhomelesssurveyrespondentsweresimilartothoseofthenon‐chronichomelesspopulation.Oneinfivereportedjoblossastheprimarycauseoftheirhomelessness.Ahigherpercentageofchronicallyhomelessrespondentsciteddrugoralcoholabuseasthecauseoftheirhomelessness,18%comparedto8%ofthenon‐chronichomelesspopulation.

Access to Services among Chronically Homeless Persons

Lessthantwo‐thirds 62% ofchronicallyhomelesssurveyrespondentsreportedreceivingsomeformofgovernmentassistancein2013,comparedto75%in2011.Halfofthosewhowerereceivingassistancereportedreceivingfoodstamps;followedby35%whoreportedGeneralAssistance,and28%SSI/SSDI.Just15%reportedreceivingMedi‐Cal/Medicarebenefits.

Ofthosewhowerenotreceivingservices,43%didnotbelievetheywereeligibleforservices.Twenty‐ninepercenthadneverappliedandnearlyone‐quarterreportedtheydidnotwantgovernmentassistance.

Incarceration

Forty‐fourpercentofchronicallyhomelesssurveyrespondentsspentanightinjailorprisoninthe12monthspriortothesurvey,ascomparedto24%forthenon‐chronichomelesspopulation.



33

Veteran Status

ManyU.S.veteransexperienceconditionswhichplacethematincreasedriskforhomelessness.VeteranshavehigherratesofPost‐traumaticStressDisorder PTSD ,traumaticbraininjury TBI ,sexualassaultandsubstanceabuse.Veteransexperiencinghomelessnessaremorelikelytoliveonthestreetthaninsheltersandoftenremainonthestreetforextendedperiodsoftime.11

TheU.S.InteragencyCouncilonHomelessnessandtheDepartmentofVeteransAffairsreportedtherewere62,619homelessveteransnationallyin2012;or13%ofallhomelessadultsareveterans.12Thefederalstrategicplantoendhomelessnessincludesaplantoendveteranhomelessnessby2015byincreasingaccesstohousingandhealthservices.

Number of Homeless Veterans

Elevenpercentofsurveyrespondentsovertheageof18yearsoldwereidentifiedasveteransin2013,comparedto17%in2011andthenationalaverageof13%.Nearlyallveteranrespondents99% reportedhavingservedonactivedutyintheU.S.ArmedForces.Twenty–threepercentreportedtheywerecalledintoactivedutyasamemberoftheNationalGuardorReserves.Forty‐onepercentofveteransincludedinthePoint‐in‐TimeCountwereshelteredin2013,slightlylowerthanin2011 46% .

Demographics of Homeless Veterans

Lessthan10%ofveteranrespondentswerefemaleandjust2%percentofhomelessveteranswerelivinginfamilieswithachildundertheageof18.Thirty‐fourpercentofveteransidentifiedasWhite/Caucasian,29%asBlack/AfricanAmericanand11%asHispanic/Latino.

Sixty‐fivepercentofhomelessveteranswerelivinginSanFranciscoatthetimetheymostrecentlybecamehomeless.Thehighestpercentage 17% ofthosewhowerenotlivinginSanFranciscoatthetime,reportedmovingtotheCitytoaccessVAservicesorbenefits.



34

Length of Homelessness among Veterans

Nationaldatasuggeststhathomelessveteransareonthestreetsforlongerperiodsoftimeandhaveamoredifficulttimegettingbackintohousing.13In2013,SanFranciscoveteranrespondentsreportedfewerepisodesofhomelessnessthannon‐veterans,yetahigherpercentagereportedhavinglivedonthestreetforextendedperiodsoftime.Sixty‐threepercentofveteransreportedhavinglivedonthestreetforoneyearormore,comparedto53%ofnon‐veterans.

Disabling Conditions among Homeless Veterans

Thepercentageofveteransreportingchronicdepressiondecreasedfrom55%in2011to36%in2013.However,thepercentagereportingPTSDincreasedfrom35%in2011to40%in2013.

Figure 28. HOMELESS VETERAN EXPERIENCING DISABLING CONDITIONS

2013:multipleresponsequestionwith99respondentsoffering254responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.Note:Mentalillnessincludesbipolardisorder,schizophreniaandothermentalillnesses;itdoesnotincludePTSDorchronicdepressionasthoseconditionsarereportedseparately.

Primary Cause of Homelessness for Veterans

Thetopthreeprimarycausesofhomelessnessreportedbyveteranswere:jobloss 28% ,alcoholanddruguse 20% ,andanargumentwithafriendorfamilymemberwhoaskedthemtoleave18% .Nearlytwiceasmanyveterans 20% reportedalcoholordruguseastheprimarycauseofhomelessnessascomparedtonon‐veterans 10% .

4%

8%

19%

23%

36%

36%

40%

42%

10%

7%

46%

25%

39%

55%

35%

46%

0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

Developmental disability

HIV/AIDS related illness

Physical disability

Chronic health problems

Mental illness*

Chronic depression

PTSD

Substance abuse 2011

2013



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Government Assistance for Homeless Veterans

Eighty‐threepercentofveteransreportedtheywerereceivingsomeformofgovernmentassistancein2013,similarto2011 80% .Ofthosewhoreportedreceivingservices,thegreatestpercentagereportedreceivingVADisabilitycompensation 40% ,followedbyfoodstamps/WIC/Calfresh34% .

Homeless Families with Children

Theriskofhomelessnessishighestamongfamilieswithchildrenundertheageof6.14Childreninfamiliesexperiencinghomelessnesshaveincreasedincidenceofillnessandaremorelikelytohaveemotionalandbehavioralproblemsthanchildrenwithconsistentlivingaccommodations.15

Whilemanyhomelesssubpopulationshavedecreasedinrecentyears,thenumberofpersonsinfamiliesexperiencinghomelessnesshasincreased.16Itwasestimatedthatpersonsinfamiliesrepresent38%ofthehomelesspopulation,ormorethan239,403personsnationally,in2012.17

Number of Homeless Families with Children

DatafromtheSanFranciscoPoint‐in‐TimeCountshowedaslightincreaseinthenumberofhomelessindividualsinfamilies.Therewere679personsinfamiliesincludedinthe2013count,upfrom635in2011.Oneintenhomelessindividualswaslivinginafamilywithatleastonechildundertheageof18.Whilethenumberofpersonsinfamiliesincreased,thepercentageofthoselivingonthestreetdecreasedfrom15%in2011to5%in2013.

Characteristics of Homeless Families with Children

Surveyswereconductedwith75individualsinhomelessfamilies.Seventy‐twopercentofsurveyrespondentsinfamilieswerefemale,muchhigherthansurveyrespondentsnotinfamilies 24%female .Thirty‐twopercentofrespondentswithfamiliesidentifiedasBlack/AfricanAmericanand28%asWhite/Caucasian.Theaverageageoffamilyrespondentswas36yearsold,slightlylowerthanthoselivingwithoutchildren.Morethantwo‐thirds 67% hadbeenhomelessformorethan6months,and96%reportedtheirschoolagechildrenwereinschool.



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Figure 29. HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS WITH CHILDREN BY ETHNICITY (2013)

2013n:74Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.

Primary Cause of Homelessness for Homeless Families with Children

Domesticviolencewasthemostfrequentlycitedcauseofhomelessnessamongsurveyrespondentslivinginfamilies 27% .Thiswasfollowedbyjobloss 22% ,drugoralcoholabuse 18% andeviction 15% .Personalrelationshipswerealsocommonlycitedcausesofhomelessnessincluding10%whoreportedadivorce,separation,orbreakupand7%whoreportedanargumentwithfriendsorfamilymemberswhoaskedthemtoleave.

Usual Sleeping Place

Eightypercentofrespondentsinfamiliesreportedusuallysleepinginemergencysheltersortransitionalhousing,ascomparedto29%ofhomelessindividualsnotinfamilies.

Government Assistance for Homeless Families with Children

Eighty‐fivepercentoffamilysurveyrespondentsreportedtheywerereceivingsomeformofpublicassistance.Ofthosewhoreportedbenefits,alargemajority 81% werereceivingfoodstamps/WIC/Calfresh.Morethanhalf 53% werereceivingCalWORKs/TANFand34%wereonMedi‐Cal/Medicare.NineteenpercentwerereceivingSSI/SSDIorDisability.

32% 28%16% 14% 8% 3% 1%

0%

50%

100%

Black/African

American

White/Caucasian

Hispanic/Latino

Other/ Multi-ethnic

Asian AmericanIndian/AlaskanNative

PacificIslander



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2013 San Francisco Homeless Youth Count Summary: Unaccompanied Children and Transition Age Youth

Data on unaccompanied homeless children under 18 and transition age youth 18‐24 areextremelylimitedatboththelocalandnational level.Thedatathatareavailablesuggestthatthenegativeeffectsofhomelessnessonchildrenarehigh.Homelessyouthhaveahardertimeaccessingservices,includingshelter,medicalcare,andemployment.18

In2012,theU.S.InteragencyCouncilonHomelessnessamendedthefederalstrategicplantoendhomelessnesstoincludespecificstrategiesandsupportstoaddresstheneedsofunaccompaniedhomelesschildrenandtransitionageyouth.Aspartofthiseffort,theDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopmentplacedincreasedinterestongatheringdataonunaccompaniedhomelesschildrenandyouthduringthe2013Point‐in‐TimeCount.

SanFranciscohasmadegreatstridesincollectingquantitativeandqualitativedataonhomelesschildrenandyouthintheCitybyconductingaspecializedstudyofthesepopulations.Surveyswereadministeredto169youththroughouttheCitybytrainedpeerinterviewers.Thefollowingsectionprovidesanoverviewofthefindings.Moreinformationregardingtheyouthstudycanbefoundinthe2013SanFranciscoHomelessYouthCountandSurvey.



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Number and Characteristics

Atotalof1,902unaccompaniedchildrenandyouthwerecountedthroughthegeneralandsupplementalyouthPoint‐in‐TimeCountefforts.Eighty‐sevenpercentofunaccompaniedchildrenandyouthwereunsheltered.

Similartothatofthegeneralpopulation,nearlythreequartersofyouth 72% identifiedasmale.Youthrespondentsalsoresembledrespondentsaged25andolderintheirsexualorientation,withabout28%identifyingasLGBTQ.AhigherpercentageofyouthidentifiedasWhite/Caucasian41% thanrespondents25yearsandover 27% ,whileasmallerpercentageidentifiedasHispanic/Latino 11%ascomparedto30%forthose25andolder .

Figure 30. HOMELESS POPULATION BY ETHNICITY AND AGE (2013)

2013youthn:164;adults25 754Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.

Oneinfouryouthsurveyrespondentsreportedtheyhadbeeninthefostercaresystem.Eighteenpercentwereonprobationorparoleatthetimeofthesurvey,yetonly10%reportedbeingonprobationorparolepriortoexperiencinghomelessness.

Themajorityofyouthsurveyrespondentswereovertheageof18,yetonequarter 25% reportedtheyhadlessthanahighschooleducation.Forty‐twopercentofhomelessyouthhadahighschooleducationoraGED,and5%hadabachelor’sdegree.19

27% 30% 25%

5% 9%

41%

11%20%

4%14%

0%

50%

100%

White/Caucasian

Hispanic/ Latino Black/ AfricanAmerican

Asian/PacificIslander

Multi-ethnic

Adults 25+

HomelessYouth



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Figure 31. HIGHEST LEVEL OF EDUCATION

COMPLETED

N 168Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.

LessthanhalfofyouthsurveyrespondentsreportedlivinginSanFranciscoatthetimetheymostrecentlybecamehomelessandmorethanonequarter 27% reportedtheyhadlivedoutofstate.ThegreatestpercentageofthosewhomovedtoSanFranciscoafterexperiencinghomelessnessreportedmovingtotheCityforwork 17% .

Primary Cause of Homelessness

Homelessyouthsurveyrespondentsreportedsimilarcausesofhomelessnesstothose25andolder.Morethanonequarterofyouthrespondentscitedjobloss 28% ,and21%citedanargumentwithafamilyorfriendwhoaskedthemtoleave.Similartohomelessfamilies,ahigherpercentageofyouthrespondents 9% reporteddomesticviolenceastheprimarycauseoftheirhomelessness,ascomparedtothoseages25andolder 5% .

Figure 32. PRIMARY CAUSES OF YOUTH HOMELESSNESS

2013:163youthrespondentsoffering197responsesand740adults25 offering827responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.

25%

42%

26%

5% 1% 1% Less than HighSchool (25%)High School/GED(42%)Some College(26%)Bachelor'sDegree (5%)GraduateDegree (1%)Other (1%)

7%

9%

15%

21%

28%

12%

5%

9%

15%

30%

0% 50% 100%

Alcohol or drug use

Family/domestic violence

Evicted

Argument with family or friendwho asked you to leave

Lost jobRespondentsage 25+

Youth



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Usual Sleeping Places

Ahigherpercentageofyouth 51% reportedusuallysleepingoutdoors,onthestreets,orinparks,thandidrespondentsage25andolder 30% .Conversely,feweryouthreportedsleepinginvehicles 2%ascomparedto15% .Twenty‐onepercentreportedtheyhadtradedsex,drugsorbothforaplacetostay.

Health and Social Barriers

Thoughbetterthanthegeneralhomelesspopulation,healthisstillanissueforhomelessyouth.Sixtyninepercentreportedtheirphysicalhealthwas“good”or“verygood.”However,31%reportedthatitwas“fair”or“poor.”Morethanhalf 69% reportedtheirmentalhealthwas“good”or“verygood,”and31%reportedthatitwas“fair”or“poor.”Amonghomelessyouthrespondents,chronicdepressionwasthemostcommonlynotedhealthcondition 27% ,followedbysubstanceabuse 23% .

Whenaskedaboutdruguse,75%reportedmarijuanaand55%reportedalcohol.Methamphetaminewasreportedastheprimarydrugofchoicefor19%ofhomelessyouthrespondents.

Figure 33. HEALTH CONDITIONS

2013:163youthrespondentsoffering258responsesand713adults25 offering1,341responsesSource:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.

9%

14%

22%

23%

27%

18%

16%

23%

31%

30%

0% 50% 100%

Chronic physical illness

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Mental illness

Substance abuse disorder

Chronic depressionRespondentsage 25+

Youth



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Violence and Crime Tenpercentofyouthsurveyrespondentsreportedtheydidnotfeelsafeintheircurrentlivingsituation.Nearly40%ofyouthrespondentsreportedtheirsafetyhadbeenthreatenedinthepast30days.Nearlyhalf46% reportedtheyhadbeenburglarizedorrobbedsincebecominghomeless.Twenty‐eightpercentreportedtheyhadbeenassaultedorphysicallyattacked,and31%hadbeenvictimtoanothercrime.Tenpercentofyouthreportedtheyhadbeenavictimofsexualexploitation.

Figure 34. EXPERIENCES WITH CRIME

2013robbedn:164;burglarizedn:163andassaultedn:160Source:AppliedSurveyResearch. 2013 .SanFranciscoHomelessCount.Note:Burglarizedmeansthatyouwerenotpresentatthetime.

Services and Social Support Networks

Fifty‐sixpercentofhomelessyouthsurveyrespondentsreportedtherewasanadultinthecommunitythattheytrustedand60%reportedtheyhadsomeonetheycouldrelyoninatimeofcrisis.Mostreportedthispersonwasafriend 47% orfamilymember 17% .Fourteenpercentreporteditwasserviceprovider.

Twothirds 64% ofhomelessyouthrespondentsreportedtheyhadsomeformofcontactwiththeirparents.Seventy‐fourpercentreportedtheyspoketotheirparentsbyphoneorSkype,26%reportedtheysometimesvisitedtheirparents,and9%reportedoftenvisitingtheirparents.Lessthanoneinfive 19% reportedhavingtriedtomovebackinwiththeirparents.

2013 San Francisco Homeless Youth Count and Survey

Youthsurveyrespondentswereasked89questionsintotal,morethanthoseposedtotheoverallhomelesssurveyrespondents.Theirresponsesprovideinsightintotheirexperiencesandshowcaseyouthwhoarenowestimatedtorepresent26%ofthetotalpopulationexperiencinghomelessnessinSanFrancisco.Thecompletefindingsoftheyouthsurveyarecontainedinaseparatereport.

31%

28%

46%

0% 50% 100%

Victim of anothercrime

Assaulted orphysicallyattacked

Burglarized orrobbed

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey Conclusion


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Conclusion TherelativelystablesizeofthegeneralhomelesspopulationandnewfindingsonthenumberofunaccompaniedchildrenandyouthobscurethefactthatmanyindividualliveshavebeenchangedforthebetterthroughSanFrancisco’shomelessinitiatives.Itisimportanttoconsidertheresultsofthe2013countwithinthecontextoflocaleffortstomoveindividualsandfamiliesoutofhomelessness,throughtheprovisionofhousingandsupportservices.Since2004,SanFranciscohascontinuedseveralambitiousinitiativestoreducethesizeofthehomelesspopulation,includingthe5‐YearStrategicPlanTowardEndingHomelessnessandthe10‐YearPlantoEndChronicHomelessness.ThepercentageofchronicallyhomelesspeopleinSanFranciscodecreasedfrom62%in2009to31%ofthehomelesspopulationin2013.Over18,000homelesspeoplehaveleftthestreetsorsheltersystemforpermanenthousingsinceJanuary2004,withtheassistanceoftheprogramsoutlinedbelow.

Care Not Cash:CareNotCashisaprogramthatoffershousing/shelterandsupportservicesasaportionofanindividual’sGeneralAssistancebenefits.CAAPisSanFrancisco'scashaidprogramforadultswithoutdependentchildren.BytheendofJanuary2013,atotalof4,018homelessCAAPrecipientshadbeenplacedinpermanenthousingthroughtheCareNotCashProgram.

Housing First:InadditiontothepopulationimpactedbyCareNotCash,theHumanServicesAgencymasterleasingprogram,calledHousingFirst,alsoprovidespermanenthousingforhomelesssingleadultsreferredbyemergencysheltersandcommunity‐basedagencies.ThenumberofindividualsplacedintohousingbetweenJanuary1,2004andJanuary31,2013was1,757.TheSanFranciscoLocalOperatingSubsidyProgram LOSP hashoused909people 605peoplein181families,and304singleindividuals withtheLOSPsupportivehousingprogram.

Continuum of Care Rental Assistance:SanFranciscohashoused1,022homelesspeople 414peoplein140families,and608singleindividuals withfederalContinuumofCarefunding,usingthelegacyShelter Careprogram.

Direct Access to Housing (DAH):TheDepartmentofPublicHealthoperatestheDirectAccesstoHousingProgram,whichprovidespermanenthousingtoformerlyhomelesspersonswithdisabilitiesreferredthroughthepublichealthcaresystem.TheDAHprogramhashousedmorethan3,000peoplesinceJanuary2004.

Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH)isapermanenthousingprogramtargetedtothemostvulnerableveteransinthecommunity.ThisprogramplaceshomelessveteranswithdisabilitiesinpermanenthousingwithongoingcomprehensivesupportservicesprovidedbytheDepartmentofVeteransAffairs.InordertomeettheuniquechallengeofSanFrancisco’sveryexpensiveandcompetitivehousingmarket,aspecialcollaborationoftheSanFranciscoHousingAuthority,theCityandCountyofSanFrancisco,andtheDepartmentofVeteransAffairshasbeenconvenedtoincreasethenumberofveteransplacedinhousing.AsofJanuary2013,358veteranswereplacedinVASHhousing.



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Homeward Bound:TheHomewardBoundProgram HBP reuniteshomelesspersonslivinginSanFranciscowithfamilyandfriendslivingelsewhere.HomelessclientswhorequesttoreturnhomethroughthisprogrammustbelivinginSanFrancisco,andbemedicallystableenoughtosuccessfullytraveltothedestination.HBPstaffdirectlycontacttheclient’sfamilymemberorfriendatthepointofdestinationtoensurethattheclientwillhaveaplacetoresideandhaveamplesupporttoassistinestablishingstabilizedhousingandtransitionfromhomelessness.Atotalof7,123homelessindividualshavebeenassistedbythisprogramsinceFebruary2005.

Rental Assistance:Since2007,SanFranciscohasprovidedshortandmediumtermrentalassistancetohomelessfamiliestohelpthemtransitionfromshelterandtransitionalhousingtoindependenthousing.Over500familieshavesuccessfullytransitionedoffoftherentalsubsidyovertheyears.Basedontheprogram’ssuccess,inDecember2012,theSalesforce.comFoundationpartneredwithSanFranciscolocalgovernmentandnon‐profitproviderstoprovidesubsidiesforadditionalfamilies.SanFranciscohasalsoprovidedthousandsofhouseholdswithlegalservices,casemanagement,orrentalassistancetopreventhomelessness.

SanFrancisco’slegalandrentalassistanceforhomelessandat‐riskfamiliesandsingleadultswasaugmentedsignificantlyfrom2009‐2012withfederalAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentActresources.TheHomelessPreventionandRapidRehousingPrograminSanFranciscoserved4,346peoplein2,573households.WhiletheSanFranciscoHomelessPreventionandRapidRehousingProgramwasasuccess,thefundinghasbeendiscontinuednationallywiththeendoftheAmericanRecoveryandReinvestmentActin2012. The Housing Access Project:SanFrancisco’srentalassistanceandhousingplacementservicesalsoincludeafederallyfundedRapidRehousingProgramforfamilies.TheHousingAccessProjecthasserved32familieswithrentalassistancetomoveoutofshelteroroffthestreetsandtransitiontostability,and56familiesarecurrentlytransitioningasofFebruary2013.

Project Homeless Connect (PHC): ProjectHomelessConnectstrengthensandutilizescollaborationswithcityagencies,businessesandorganizationstoprovidecomprehensiveholisticservices,atspecialeventsandthroughcontinuedcare,forthosewhoareatriskofbecominghomeless,currentlyhomelessortransitioningfromsheltertopermanenthousing.ProjectHomelessConnectprovidesbimonthlyeventswhichprovideasinglelocationwherenon‐profit,medicalandsocialserviceproviderscollaboratetoservethehomelessofSanFrancisco.AndnowProjectHomelessConnecthaslaunchedEveryDayConnectprogramwhichlinkshard‐to‐accessmedicalandsocialservice,onadailybasis.AsofDecember2012,45,524volunteersprovidedservicesto67,605homelessandlow‐incomeSanFranciscans.

SanFranciscoremainscommittedtoprovidinghousingandservicesthroughinnovativeandeffectiveprogramstomovehomelessSanFranciscansoutofhomelessness.Thecompletionofthe2013countprovidesHUD‐requireddataforfederalfundingforSanFrancisco’sContinuumofCareCoC .TheSanFranciscoCoC theLocalHomelessCoordinatingBoard isanetworkoflocalhomelessserviceprovidersthatcollaborativelyplan,organize,anddeliverhousingandservicestomeettheneedsofhomelesspeopleastheymovetowardstablehousingandmaximumself‐



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sufficiency.TheseHomelessAssistanceGrantfunds morethan$23millionannually providemuch‐neededresourcestohouseandservethelocalhomelesspopulationstudiedinthisreport.

Thedatapresentedinthe2013HomelessPoint‐in‐TimeCountandSurveyreportwillcontinuetobeusedbyplanningbodiesoftheCityandCountyofSanFranciscoandotherorganizationstoinformadditionaloutreach,serviceplanning,andpolicydecision‐makingoverthenexttwoyearsastheycontinuetoaddresshomelessness.

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey AppendixI:HomelessCount&SurveyMethodology


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Appendix I: Homeless Count & Survey Methodology Overview

Thepurposeofthe2013SanFranciscoHomelessPoint‐in‐TimeCountandSurveywastoproduceaPoint‐in‐TimeestimateofpeoplewhoexperiencehomelessnessinSanFrancisco,aregionwithcoversapproximately47squaremiles.TheresultsofthestreetcountwerecombinedwiththeresultsfromtheshelterandinstitutioncounttoproducethetotalestimatednumberofpersonsexperiencinghomelessnessinSanFranciscoonanygivennight.Thesubsequentsurveywasusedtogainamorecomprehensiveunderstandingoftheexperiencesanddemographicsofthosecounted.Amoredetaileddescriptionofthemethodologyfollows.

COMPONENTS OF THE HOMELESS COUNT METHOD ThePoint‐in‐Timecountmethodologyhadthreeprimarycomponents:

1. Thegeneralstreetcountbetweenthehoursof8pmtomidnight–anenumerationofunshelteredhomelessindividuals

2. Theyouthstreetcountbetweenthehoursof1pmand5pm–atargetedenumerationofunshelteredyouthundertheageof25

3. Thesheltercountforthenightofthestreetcount–anenumerationofshelteredhomelessindividuals.

Theunshelteredandshelteredhomelesscountswerecoordinatedtooccurwithinthesametimeperiodinordertominimizepotentialduplicatecountingofhomelesspersons.

THE PLANNING PROCESS Toensurethesuccessofthecount,manyCityandcommunityagenciescollaboratedincommunityoutreach,volunteerrecruitment,logisticalplanning,methodologicaldecision‐making,andinteragencycoordinationefforts.AppliedSurveyResearch ASR ,anon‐profitsocialresearchfirm,providedtechnicalassistancewiththeseaspectsoftheplanningprocess.ASRhasovertwelveyearsofexperienceconductinghomelesscountsandsurveysthroughoutCaliforniaandacrossthenation.TheirworkisfeaturedasabestpracticeinHUD’spublication:AGuidetoCountingUnshelteredHomelessPeople.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Localhomelessserviceprovidersandadvocateshavebeenactiveandvaluedpartnersintheplanningandimplementationofthisandprevioushomelesscounts.Theplanningteaminvitedpublicinputonanumberofaspectsofthecount.TheLocalHomelessCoordinatingBoard LHCB ,theleadentityofSanFrancisco’sContinuumofCare,wasinvitedtocommentonthemethodology,andsubsequentlyendorsedit.TheLHCBwasalsotheprimaryvenuetocollectpublicfeedback.



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INTERAGENCY COORDINATION TheplanningteamwascomprisedofstafffromtheHumanServicesAgency’sHousingandHomelessDivision,LocalHomelessCoordinatingBoardPolicyAnalyst,andconsultantsfromAppliedSurveyResearch.Intheearlystagesoftheplanningprocess,theplanningteamrequestedthecollaboration,cooperation,andparticipationofseveralgovernmentagenciesthatregularlyinteractwithhomelessindividualsandpossessconsiderableknowledgeandexpertiserelevanttothecount.InNovember2010,theplanningteamorganizedaninitialmeetingwhichincludedrepresentativesoftheSanFranciscoPoliceDepartment,theDepartmentofPublicHealth,theRecreationandParkDepartment,theDepartmentofPublicWorks,theMayor’sOffice,theOfficeoftheCityAdministrator,andtheHomelessOutreachTeam SFHOT .Theplanningteamrequestedtheparticipationandinputoftheseagenciesinfourkeyareasrelatedtotheunshelteredcount:therecruitmentandmobilizationofvolunteersamongCitystaff,theidentificationof“hotspots”forhomelessnessthroughouttheCity,therecruitmentofstafftoenumeratehomelessindividualsinCityparks,andtheprovisionofvolunteersafetytrainingandsecuritydetailonthenightofthecount.Theplanningteamconvenedaseriesofmoredetailedmeetingswiththepartnerstocoordinatethelogisticsofthegeneralstreetcount,youthcount,andtheparkcount.

General Street Count Methodology

DEFINITION Forthepurposesofthisstudy,theHUDdefinitionofunshelteredhomelesspersonswasused:

» Individualsandfamilieswithaprimarynighttimeresidencethatisapublicorprivateplacenotdesignedfororordinarilyusedasaregularsleepingaccommodationforhumanbeings,includingacar,park,abandonedbuilding,busortrainstation,airport,orcampingground.

METHODOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS The2013streetcountmethodologyfollowedthesamegeneralmethodologyusedinthe2007,2009and2011counts,withtheadditionofdedicatedyouthoutreachandconsolidateddatacollectionforms.In2007‐2011,allareasoftheCitywerefullycanvassedbyadultcommunityvolunteersandserviceproviders,withnoadditionaloutreachbyyouth.In2013,thededicatedyouthoutreachcreatedamorecomprehensivestudy,resultinginanincreaseinthenumberofchildrenandyouthcounted.The2007‐2013countsdifferedfromthemethodusedin2005,whendenselypopulatedareasoftheCitywerefullycanvassed,whileoutlyingareaswereenumeratedusing“hotspot”data.

VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING Manyindividualswholiveand/orworkinSanFranciscoturnedouttosupporttheCity’sefforttoenumeratethelocalhomelesspopulation.Approximately334communityvolunteersparticipatedinthe2013generalstreetcount.TheHumanServicesAgency HSA spearheadedthevolunteerrecruitmenteffort.Extensiveoutreacheffortswereconducted,targetinglocalnon‐profitsthatservethehomelessandlocalvolunteerprograms.

ProjectHomelessConnectpublicizedthecountandpromotedvolunteerparticipationthroughane‐mailtoitsvolunteerbaseandaneventpostingonitswebsite.TheLocalHomelessCoordinatingBoard LHCB ,theContinuumofCare’soversightbodyforSanFrancisco,alsopromoted



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communityparticipationinthecountatallgeneralmeetingsandsubcommitteemeetingsforseveralmonthsleadinguptothecount.TheLHCBalsopostedanannouncementandadditionalinformationaboutthecountonitswebsiteandontheCraigslistwebsite.

Theplanningcommitteesentapressreleaseinformingthecommunityaboutthecountandmakinganappealforvolunteerparticipationapproximatelytwoweeksbeforethecount.Volunteersregisteredtoparticipate,andreceivedadditionaldetailsonthecountviadedicatedSFGOVemailaccountmonitoredandstaffedbyAppliedSurveyResearch ASR supportstaff.

Hundredsofvolunteersservedasenumeratorsonthenightofthecount,canvassingtheCityinteamstovisuallycounthomelesspersons.Volunteersalsoprovidedstaffingsupportatthefourdispatchcenters,greetingvolunteers,distributinginstructions,maps,andequipmenttoenumerationteams,andcollectingdatasheetsfromreturningteams.

Inordertoparticipateinthecount,allvolunteerswererequiredtoattendanhouroftrainingimmediatelybeforethecountonJanuary24,2013,from7to8p.m.Inadditiontothepresentationgivenbytheleadstaffatthedispatchcenter,volunteersreceivedprintedinstructionsdetailinghowtocountunshelteredhomelesspersons.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS Everyeffortwasmadetominimizepotentiallyhazardoussituations.ParksconsideredtoobigordenselywoodedtoinspectsafelyandaccuratelyinthedarkonthenightofthecountwereenumeratedbyteamsofPoliceOfficersandSFHOTstaffduringthedawnhoursofJanuary25.However,themajorityofparksdeemedsafewerecountedbyvolunteersonthenightofthecount.SanFranciscoPoliceDepartmentofficersprovidedasafetybriefingtothevolunteersandprovidedsecurityatthedispatchcentersthroughoutthenight.Lawenforcementdistrictswerenotifiedofpendingstreetcountactivityintheirjurisdictions.AdditionalsafetymeasuresforthevolunteersincludedthedeploymentofanexperiencedSFHOToutreachworkerwithteamsenumeratinghighdensityareasandtheprovisionofflashlightsandfluorescentsafetyveststowalkingenumerationteams.Noofficialreportswerereceivedinregardstounsafeorat‐risksituationsoccurringduringthestreetcountinanyareaoftheCity.

STREET COUNT DISPATCH CENTERS ToachievecompletecoverageoftheCitywithinthefour‐hourtimeframe,theplanningteamidentifiedfourareasfortheplacementofdispatchcentersonthenightofthecount–theDowntown,Mission,Sunset,andBayviewDistricts.Volunteersselectedtheirdispatchcenteratthetimeofregistration,basedonfamiliaritywiththeareaorconvenience.Theplanningteamdivideduptheenumerationroutesandassignedthemtothedispatchcenterclosestormostcentraltothecoveragearea,tofacilitatethetimelydeploymentofenumerationteamsintothefield.

LOGISTICS OF ENUMERATION TheSanFranciscoplanningteamdividedtheCityinto151enumerationroutes.Volunteerscanvassedroutesofapproximatelysixto30blocksinteamsoftwotosixvolunteers.Walkingteamscanvassedroutesincommercialareasandotherlocationsknowntoincludesizablehomelesspopulations,whiledrivingteamscountedmoresparselypopulatedandresidentialareasbya



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combinationofdrivingandwalking.Eachteamreceivedamap,whichdemarcatedtheareatobecanvassedandclearlyshowedtheboundariesofthecountingarea.TwosmallerinsetmapsshowedtheapproximatelocationoftheroutewithinthebroadercontextoftheCityandpinpointedthelocationofknownhotspotsforhomelessness.Dispatchcentervolunteersprovidedeachteamwithtallysheetstorecordthenumberofhomelesspersonsobservedandbasicdemographicandlocationinformation.Dispatchcentervolunteersalsoverifiedthatatleastonepersononeachteamhadacellphoneavailablefortheiruseduringthecountandrecordedthenumberonthevolunteerdeploymentlogsheet.

Asin2011,teamscanvassingdenselypopulatedareaswithknownlargepopulationsofhomelesspersonswereaccompaniedbyexperiencedoutreachworkersfromSFHOT,atrainedoutreachteamthatworkswiththelocalhomelesspopulationyear‐round.SFHOTmembersprovidedvolunteerswithvaluableguidanceonwhereandhowtolookforhomelesspersonsandassistedtheteamindeterminingwhomtocount.TeamsinthesoutheastcorridoroftheCitywereaccompaniedbyworkersfromtheCommunityAmbassadorsProgram CAP ,amultiracialandbilingualpublicsafetygroup.Membersofthesetwoorganizationshelpedteamsthroughtheirintimateknowledgeoftheareas.

Youth Street Count Methodology

GOAL Thegoalofthededicatedyouthcountwastobemoreinclusiveofhomelesschildrenandyouth,undertheageof25.Manyhomelesschildrenandyouthdonotusehomelessservices,areunrecognizabletoadultstreetcountvolunteersandmaybeinunshelteredlocationsthataredifficulttofind.Therefore,traditionalstreetcounteffortsarenotaseffectiveinreachingyouth.

In2013,HUDaskedcommunitiesacrossthecountytoincreasetheireffortstoincludeyouthintheirPoint‐in‐Timecounts.TheplanningteamrecognizedthathomelessyouthhavetraditionallybeenunderrepresentedintheSanFranciscoPoint‐in‐TimecountsandworkedwithASRtodevelopalocalizedstrategytobetterincludeunaccompaniedchildrenandtransitionalageyouthinthecount.

RESEARCH DESIGN Planningforthe2013supplementalyouthcountincludedmanyyouthhomelessserviceproviders.Localprovidersidentifiedlocationswherehomelessyouthwereknowntocongregate.Thelocationscorrespondedtoeightzipcodes,intheneighborhoodsoftheHaight,Mission,Tenderloin,UnionSquare,Castro,SoMa,thePanhandle,GoldenGateParkandtheEmbarcadero.Serviceprovidersfamiliarwiththeareaswereidentifiedandaskedtorecruitcurrentlyhomelessyouthtoparticipateinthecount.

LarkinStreetforYouth,AttheCrossroads,andtheHomelessYouthAlliancerecruited24youthtoworkaspeerenumerators,countinghomelessyouthintheidentifiedareasofSanFranciscoonJanuary24,2013.Youthworkerswerepaid$11perhourfortheirtime,includingthetrainingconductedpriortothecount.Youthweretrainedonwhereandhowtoidentifyhomelessyouthaswellashowtorecordthedata.



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IthasbeenrecognizedbytheDepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopmentaswellastheUSInteragencyCouncilonHomelessnessthatyouthdonotcommonlycominglewithhomelessadultsandarenoteasilyidentifiedbynon‐youth.Forthisreason,theyhaveacceptedandrecommendedcommunitiescountyouthattimeswhentheycanbeseen,ratherthanduringgeneraloutreachtimes.

Duringthegeneralcensus,volunteers,cityemployeesandoutreachworkerscountedjust11unaccompaniedchildren,whilepeeryouthenumeratorscounted114.Thenumberoftransitionageyouthreportedbyyouthduringthetargetedyoutheffortresemblesthenumberofyouthcountedinthegeneralcensusoutreach,thoughtheseyouthwerenotduplicatecounts.Generaloutreacheffortsresultedinavisualcountofjust218youthbetweentheagesof18and24yearsold.Asmentionedpreviouslythiscountisnoninvasiveandallowsforcountvolunteerstoidentifypersonsinvehiclesandcoveredsleepingareastobeidentifiedwithoutanage.Theagedistributionoftheseindividualsisthendeterminedbyextrapolation,basedontheknownagedistribution.Thisextrapolationmethodresultedinanadditional517youthbetweentheagesof18‐24andresultinginanumbersimilartothetargetedyouthefforts.

Figure 35. UNSHELTERED YOUTH COUNT DATA BY SOURCE Unaccompanied

Children under 18 Transition Age Youth

18-24

General Count Visual count 11 218 Extrapolated count 0 517 Subtotal 11 735

Youth Count Visual Count 114 789 Extrapolated count 0 0 Subtotal 114 789

Total Count 125 1,524



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DATA COLLECTIONItwasdeterminedthathomelessyouthwouldbemoreprominentonthestreetduringdaylighthours,ratherthanintheeveningwhenthegeneralcountwasconducted.Theyouthcountwasconductedfromapproximately1p.m.to5p.m.onJanuary24,2013.Youthworkedinteamsoftwotofour,withteamscoordinatedbyyouthstreetoutreachworkers.

Shelter and Institution Count Methodology

GOAL ThegoaloftheshelterandinstitutioncountwastogainanaccuratecountofpersonstemporarilyhousedinsheltersandotherinstitutionsacrossSanFrancisco.Thesedatawerevitaltogaininganaccurateoverallcountofthehomelesspopulationandunderstandingwherehomelesspersonsreceivedshelter.

DEFINITION » Individualsandfamilieslivinginasupervisedpubliclyorprivatelyoperatedshelter

designatedtoprovidetemporarylivingarrangements.

RESEARCH DESIGN ThehomelessoccupancyofthefollowingsheltersandinstitutionswascollectedforthenightofJanuary24,2013.WhileHUDdoesnotincludecountsofhomelessindividualsinhospitals,residentialrehabilitationfacilities,andjailsinthereportablenumbersforthePoint‐in‐Timecount,thesefacilitiesareincludedinSanFrancisco’sshelteredcountbecausetheseindividualsmeetSanFrancisco’slocaldefinitionofhomelessnessandthenumbersprovideimportantsupplementalinformationforthecommunityandserviceprovidersintheirplanningefforts.

Thefollowingfacilitiesparticipatedinthecount:

» Mentalhealthfacilitiesandsubstanceabusetreatmentcenters:TheDepartmentofPublicHealthandlocalagenciesassistedincollectingcountsofself‐identifiedhomelesspersonsstayinginvariousfacilitiesonthenightofJanuary24,2013.ThesePoint‐in‐Timecountnumbersincludedinpatientpsychiatricservices,AcuteDiversionUnits,medically‐assistedandsocialmodeldetoxificationfacilities,andresidentialdrugtreatmentfacilities.

» Jail:TheSanFranciscoSheriff’sDepartmentprovidedacountofthenumberofhomelesspersonsintheCountyJailonthenightofJanuary24,2013.

» Hospitals:TheSanFranciscoHospitalCouncilassistedwiththecoordinationofobtainingcountnumbersfromthehospitals.StafffromindividualhospitalscollectedthenumberofpersonswhowerehomelessintheirfacilitiesonthenightofJanuary24,2013.Thenumbersreportedforthehospitalsdidnotduplicatetheinpatientmentalhealthunits.



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Adesignatedstaffpersonprovidedthecountforeachofthesefacilities;clientswerenotinterviewed.Fortheemergencyshelters,transitionalhousingprograms,resourcecenters,andstabilizationrooms,allpersonsinthefacilityonthenightofthecountwereincludedinthePoint‐in‐Timecountbecausethesearehomeless‐specificprograms.Forthehospitalsandtreatmentcenters,socialworkersorappropriatestaffcountedpatientswhoidentifiedashomeless.TheSanFranciscoJailreferencedbookingcardstodeterminehomelessstatus.

CHALLENGES Therearemanychallengesinanyhomelessenumeration,especiallywhenimplementedinacommunityaslargeanddiverseasSanFrancisco.Point‐in‐Timecountsare“snapshots”thatquantifythesizeofthehomelesspopulationatagivenpointduringtheyear.Hence,thecountmaynotberepresentativeoffluctuationsandcompositionalchangesinthehomelesspopulationseasonallyorovertime.

POINT-IN-TIME UNDERCOUNT Foravarietyofreasons,homelesspersonsgenerallydonotwanttobeseen,andmakeconcertedeffortstoavoiddetection.Regardlessofhowsuccessfuloutreacheffortsare,anundercountofthehomelesspopulationwillresult,especiallyofhard‐to‐reachsubpopulationssuchasfamilies.

Inanon‐intrusivevisualhomelessenumeration,themethodsemployed,whileacademicallysound,haveinherentbiasesandshortcomings.Evenwiththeassistanceofdedicatedhomelessserviceprovidersthemethodologycannotguarantee100%accuracy.Manyfactorsmaycontributetomissedopportunities,forexample:

» Itisdifficulttoidentifyhomelesspersonswhomaybesleepinginvans,cars,recreationalvehicles,abandonedbuildingsorstructuresunfitforhumanhabitation.

» Homelessfamilieswithchildrenoftenseekopportunitiestostayonprivateproperty,ratherthansleeponthestreets,invehicles,ormakeshiftshelters.

TheLocalHomelessCoordinatingBoard,alongwithcommunitymembers,expressedconcernsabouttheundercountofhomelessfamiliesinthePoint‐in‐TimecountandwiththeuseofHUD’sdefinitionofhomelessness.Thereforetheinformationbelowismeanttoprovidesupplementaldataandbeusedforinformationalpurposes.

TheSanFranciscoUnifiedSchoolDistrict SFUSD employsabroaderdefinitionofhomelessnessinitsrecordkeeping.Itincludesyouthlivinginshelters,singleroomoccupancyhotels,transitionalhousing,thestreets,cars,doubledup,andotherinadequateaccommodations.SFUSDestimatesthattherewere2,357homelessschool‐agedyouthenrolledinthedistrictonJanuary24,2013,upfrom2,200inJanuary2011.Thelargestnumberofchildrenin2013werein5thgrade 237children and9thgrade 236 ,followedby10thgrade 229 .Therewere65childreninkindergartenandfourchildreninpre‐schoolandtransitionalkindergarten.

CompassConnectingPoint CCP isthecentralintakepointforfamiliesfacinghomelessnessorahousingcrisisinSanFrancisco,CCPprovideshousingsearchservicesandmanagesthewaitlistforfamilythreetosixmonthshelterplacement.OnJanuary22,2013,CCPreportedthat165familiesseekingthreetosixmonthshelterplacementhadbeenassessedin‐personforsheltereligibilityand



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beenplacedonthewaitlist,andanadditional82familiescalledtostarttheassessmentprocess247totalfamiliesseekingshelter .Ofthe165familiesonthewaitlist,19werelivinginthreetosixmonthfamilyshelter 12% andchosetogetonthewaitlistforasubsequentsimilarplacement,ofthe153livingoutsidethethreetosixmonthfamilyshelterprograms,99werelivingwithfriendsandfamily.Also,it'snoteworthythatzerofamiliesreportedsleepinginthestreet.Onefamilyreportedsleepinginastoreparttime,andfourfamiliesreportedsleepingincars‐‐allotherfamilieswereintransitionalhousing,treatment,orothershelteredsettings.

Inaddition,HSAhasconsideredotherunshelteredcountmethodologies,intheinterestofdecreasingthesubjectivityinvolvedinthecountandattainingamoreaccuratenumber.Oneapproachthathasbeenconsideredisconductinginterviewsofallpersonsobservedduringthestreetcounttodeterminewhethertheyself‐identifyashomeless.CoveringtheentireCityusingthisapproachwouldrequiresignificantlymorevolunteersoramultiple‐nightcount.Amultiple‐nightcountisamoreexpensiveapproachandwouldrequireadditionalresources.Moreover,amultiple‐nightcountwouldrequireamethodologytoeliminateduplicatecountingofindividuals.Inaddition,interviewingraisesconcernsaboutdisturbingtheprivacyofhomelesspersonsandcompromisingthesafetyofvolunteerenumerators.

EventhoughthePoint‐in‐TimeCountismostlikelytobeanundercountofthehomelesspopulation,themethodologyemployed,coupledwiththehomelesssurvey,isthemostcomprehensiveapproachavailable.

Survey Methodology

PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION Thesurveyof954homelesspersonswasconductedinordertoyieldqualitativedataaboutthehomelesscommunityinSanFrancisco.ThesedataareusedfortheMcKinney‐VentoContinuumofCareHomelessAssistancefundingapplicationandareimportantforfutureprogramdevelopmentandplanning.Thesurveyelicitedinformationsuchasgender,familystatus,militaryservice,lengthandrecurrenceofhomelessness,usualnighttimeaccommodations,causesofhomelessness,andaccesstoservicesthroughopen‐ended,closed‐ended,andmultipleresponsequestions.Thesurveydatabringgreaterperspectivetocurrentissuesofhomelessnessandtotheprovisionanddeliveryofservices.

SurveyswereconductedbyhomelessworkersandCommunityAmbassadorsProgramteammembers,whoweretrainedbyAppliedSurveyResearchandHSA.Trainingsessionsledpotentialinterviewersthroughacomprehensiveorientationthatincludedprojectbackgroundinformationanddetailedinstructiononrespondenteligibility,interviewingprotocol,andconfidentiality.Homelessworkerswerecompensatedatarateof$5.00percompletedsurvey.

Itwasdeterminedthatsurveydatawouldbemoreeasilycollectedifanincentivegiftwasofferedtorespondentsinappreciationfortheirtimeandparticipation.Socksweregivenasanincentiveforparticipatinginthe2013homelesssurvey.Thesockswereeasytoobtainanddistribute,werethoughttohavewideappeal,andcouldbeprovidedwithintheprojectbudget.Thisapproach



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enabledsurveystobeconductedatanytimeduringtheday.Thegiftprovedtobeagreatincentiveandwaswidelyacceptedamongsurveyrespondents.

SURVEY ADMINISTRATION DETAILS » The2013SanFranciscoHomelessSurveywasadministeredbythetrainedsurveyteam

betweenJanuary28andMarch10,2013.» Inall,thesurveyteamcollected954uniquesurveys.

SURVEY SAMPLING Theplanningteamrecommendedapproximately1,000surveysfor2013.BasedonaPoint‐in‐Timeestimateof7,350homelesspersons,witharandomizedsurveysamplingprocess,the952validsurveysrepresentaconfidenceintervalof /‐3%witha95%confidencelevelwhengeneralizingtheresultsofthesurveytotheestimatedpopulationofhomelessindividualsinSanFrancisco.

The2007surveywasaservice‐basedapproachwhichfocusedonsurveyingindividualsindrop‐in‐centersandfreemealsites.The2009surveywasanentirelystreet‐basedapproachedwhichfocusedsurveyeffortsonoutdoorandstreetlocations.The2013surveywasanintegrationofthetwopreviousapproachesandwasadministeredinbothtransitionalhousingfacilitiesandonthestreet.Inordertoassuretherepresentationoftransitionalhousingresidents,whocanbeunderrepresentedinastreet‐basedsurvey,surveyquotaswerecreatedtoreachindividualsandheadsoffamilyhouseholdslivingintheseprograms.Individualsresidinginemergencyshelterswerereachedthroughstreetsurveysduringthedaywhenemergencyshelterswereclosed.

Strategicattemptsweremadetoreachindividualsinvariousgeographiclocationsandofvarioussubsetgroupssuchashomelessyouth,minorityethnicgroups,militaryveterans,domesticviolencevictims,andfamilies.Onewaytoincreasetheparticipationofthesegroupswastorecruitpeersurveysworkers.The2013surveyalsoprioritizedapeer‐to‐peerapproachtodatacollectionbyincreasingthenumberofcurrentlyhomelesssurveyors.

Inordertoincreaserandomizationofsamplerespondents,surveyworkersweretrainedtoemployan“everythirdencounter”surveyapproach.Surveyworkerswereinstructedtoapproacheverythirdpersontheyencounteredwhomtheyconsideredtobeaneligiblesurveyrespondent.Ifthepersondeclinedtotakethesurvey,thesurveyworkercouldapproachthenexteligiblepersontheyencountered.Aftercompletingasurvey,therandomizedapproachwasresumed.

DATA COLLECTION Carewastakenbyinterviewerstoensurethatrespondentsfeltcomfortableregardlessofthestreetorshelterlocationwherethesurveyoccurred.Duringtheinterviews,respondentswereencouragedtobecandidintheirresponsesandwereinformedthattheseresponseswouldbeframedasgeneralfindings,wouldbekeptconfidential,andwouldnotbetraceabletoanyoneindividual.

DATA ANALYSIS Inordertoavoidpotentialduplicationofrespondents,thesurveyrequestedrespondents’initialsanddateofbirth,sothatduplicationcouldbeavoidedwithoutcompromisingtherespondents’



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anonymity.Uponcompletionofthesurveyeffort,anextensiveverificationprocesswasconductedtoeliminateduplicates.Thisprocessexaminedrespondents’dateofbirth,initials,gender,ethnicity,andlengthofhomelessness,andconsistenciesinpatternsofresponsestootherquestionsonthesurvey.

SURVEY CHALLENGES AND LIMITATIONS The2013SanFranciscoHomelessSurveydidnotincludeanequalrepresentationofallhomelessexperiences.Forexample,agreaternumberofsurveyswereconductedamongtransitionalhousingresidentsthaninpreviousyears.However,thisprovidedanincreasednumberofrespondentslivinginfamiliesandprovidedamorecomprehensiveunderstandingoftheoverallpopulation.

Theremaybesomevarianceinthedatathatthehomelessindividualsself‐reported.However,usingapeerinterviewingmethodologyisbelievedtoallowtherespondentstobemorecandidwiththeiranswers,andmayhelpreducetheuneasinessofrevealingpersonalinformation.Further,serviceprovidersandCitystaffmembersrecommendedindividualswhowouldbethebesttoconductinterviewsandtheyreceivedcomprehensivetrainingabouthowtoconductinterviews.TheserviceprovidersandCitystaffalsoreviewedthesurveystoensurequalityresponses.Surveysthatwereconsideredincompleteorcontainingfalseresponseswerenotaccepted.

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey AppendixII:DefinitionsandAbbreviations


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Appendix II: Definitions and Abbreviations Chronic homelessnessisdefinedbytheU.S.DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment,theU.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices,andtheU.S.DepartmentofVeteransAffairsas"anunaccompaniedhomelessindividualwithadisablingconditionwhohaseitherbeencontinuouslyhomelessforayearormore,orhashadatleastfourepisodesofhomelessnessinthepastthreeyears."

Disabling condition,forthepurposesofthisstudy,isdefinedasaphysicaldisability,mentalillness,depression,alcoholordrugabuse,chronichealthproblems,HIV/AIDS,Post‐traumaticStressDisorder PTSD ,oradevelopmentaldisability.

Emergency shelteristheprovisionofasafealternativetothestreets,eitherinashelterfacility,orthroughtheuseofstabilizationrooms.Emergencyshelterisshort‐term,usuallyfor90daysorfewer.Domesticviolencesheltersaretypicallyconsideredatypeofemergencyshelter,astheyprovidesafe,immediatehousingforvictimsandtheirchildren.

FamilyisdefinedbyHUDasahouseholdwithatleastoneadultandonechildunder18.

Homeless underthecategory1definitionofhomelessnessintheHEARTHAct,includesindividualsandfamilieslivinginasupervisedpubliclyorprivatelyoperatedshelterdesignatedtoprovidetemporarylivingarrangements,orwithaprimarynighttimeresidencethatisapublicorprivateplacenotdesignedfororordinarilyusedasaregularsleepingaccommodationforhumanbeings,includingacar,park,abandonedbuilding,busortrainstation,airport,orcampingground.

HUDistheabbreviationfortheU.S.DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment.

Sheltered homeless individualsarethosehomelessindividualswhoarelivinginemergencysheltersortransitionalhousingprograms.

Single individualreferstoanunaccompaniedadultoryouth.

Transitional Age Youth (TAY)referstoanunaccompaniedyouthages18‐24yearsold.

Transitional housingfacilitatesthemovementofhomelessindividualsandfamiliestopermanenthousing.Itishousinginwhichhomelessindividualsmayliveupto24monthsandreceivesupportiveservicesthatenablethemtolivemoreindependently.Supportiveservices–whichhelppromoteresidentialstability,increasedskilllevelorincome,andgreaterself‐determination–maybeprovidedbytheorganizationmanagingthehousing,orcoordinatedbythatorganizationandprovidedbyotherpublicorprivateagencies.Transitionalhousingcanbeprovidedinonestructureorseveralstructuresatonesite,orinmultiplestructuresatscatteredsites.

Unaccompanied Children referstochildrenundertheageof18whodonothaveaparentorguardianpresent.

Unsheltered homeless individualsarethosehomelessindividualswhoarelivingonthestreets,inabandonedbuildings,storagestructures,vehicles,encampments,oranyotherplaceunfitforhumanhabitation.

2013SanFranciscoHomelessCount&Survey AppendixIII:Endnotes


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Appendix III: Endnotes 1DepartmentofHousingandUrbanDevelopment. December2012 .HousingInventoryCountandPoint‐in‐TimeCountofHomelessPersons:DataCollectionGuidanceVersion1.1.2Respondentswerenotrequiredtocompleteallsurveyquestionsandmissingvalueshavebeenintentionallyomittedfromthesurveyresults.Therefore,thetotalnumberofrespondentsforeachquestionwillnotalwaysequalthetotalnumberofsurveys.3CityandCountyofSanFrancisco,OfficeoftheController 2013 .2013CitySurveyReport. Dataset Retrievedfromhttp://co.sfgov.org/webreports/details.aspx?id 1572.CalculatedbySanFranciscoHumanServicesAgencyMay29,2013.4Pecora,P.,R.C.Kessler,J.Williams,etal. 2010 .Whatworksinfostercare?KeycomponentsofsuccessfromtheNorthwestFosterCareAlumniStudy.OxfordandNewYork:OxfordUniversityPress.5StateofCaliforniaEmploymentDevelopmentDepartment. 2013 .UnemploymentRates LaborForce .Retrieved2013fromhttp://www.labormarketinfo.edd.ca.gov6SharonA.Salit,M.E. 1998 .HospitalizationCostsAssociatedwithHomelessnessinNewYorkCity.NewEnglandJournalofMedicine,338,1734‐1740.7NationalInstituteofJusticeandtheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention. 2000 .Extent,NatureandConsequencesofIntimatePartnerViolence:FindingsfromtheNationalViolenceAgainstWomenSurvey.Atlanta,Georgia.8Kushel,M.etal. 2002 .EmergencyDepartmentUseAmongtheHomelessandMarginallyHoused:ResultsFromaCommunity‐BasedStudy.AmericanJournalofPublicHealth.92 5 :778–784.9Metraux,,S.etal. 2007 .IncarcerationandHomelessness.2007NationalSymposiumonHomelessnessResearch.Retrieved2013fromhttp://works.bepress.com/10U.S.InteragencyCouncilonHomelessness. 2013 .AnnualUpdate2012.Retrieved2013fromhttp://www.usich.gov/11U.S.InteragencyCouncilonHomelessness. 2013 .OpeningDoors:HomelessnessAmongVeterans.Retrieved2013fromhttp://www.usich.gov/12USICH. 2013 .AnnualUpdate2012.Retrieved2013fromhttp://www.usich.gov/13USICH. 2013 .OpeningDoors:HomelessnessAmongVeterans.Retrieved2013fromhttp://www.usich.gov/14U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServices. 2007 .CharacteristicsandDynamicsofHomelessFamilieswithChildren.Retrieved2013fromhttp://aspe.hhs.gov/15U.S.InteragencyCouncilonHomelessness. 2013 .OpeningDoors.Retrieved2013fromhttp://www.usich.gov/16USUICCouncilH.Homelessness. 2013 .OpeningDoors:FamilieswithChildren.Retrieved2013fromhttp://www.usich.gov/17USICHU. 2013 .AnnualUpdate2012.Retrieved2013fromhttp://www.usich.gov/18NationalCoalitionfortheHomeless. 2011 .HomelessYouthFactSheet.Retrieved2011fromhttp://www.nationalhomeless.org.19Asapeertopeersurveymethodologywasusedtogatheryouthsurveyresponses,itisimportanttonotethatonehomelessyouthsurveyorhadrecentlycompletedgraduateworkandsurveyinghisknownuniversemayhaveaffected

san francisco pit homeless count 2013 final · and through the final stages of the project....

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