Why Is This Important?
Homeless individuals lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Homelessness detracts from an individual’s ability to reach his or her full human potential and negatively impacts their overall health. Difficulty finding a safe place to sleep at night can undermine a person’s ability to maintain a steady job. Homelessness can impact a child’s ability to succeed in school, putting them at risk of becoming homeless as an adult. Furthermore, homelessness jeopardizes the safety of both homeless individuals and the communities in which they seek shelter.
What Is a Sustainable State?
A sustainable state is one where nobody is homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless have access to safe temporary shelters, affordable permanent housing, and counseling and support services.
How Are We Doing?
In its 2007 Homeless Census and Survey, San Mateo County identified 2,064 homeless individuals residing in the county (0.3 percent of the total population). This included 1,094 unsheltered individuals and 970 individuals in homeless shelters. Based on the survey findings, it was estimated that 6,646 individuals were homeless at some point during the year.
Selected characteristics of San Mateo County’s homeless population are described in the following chart:
Data source: San Mateo County Human Services Agency
Other findings from the survey included:
- Seven percent of the 1,775 homeless households were families with dependent children.
- African Americans were disproportionately represented in the homeless population, comprising 3 percent of the county’s total population but 31 percent of its homeless population.
- Thirteen percent of the homeless population reported having been in the foster care system, which is consistent with national findings that a significant number of emancipated foster youth become homeless.
- Twenty-four percent of the homeless population reported having used hospital emergency rooms three or more times in the previous year.
Homeless services
In fiscal year 2006-07, the Shelter Network served 850 homeless families and 638 homeless adults, totaling 3,506 individuals. Of its 3,506 clients, 1,571 were children. The Shelter Network provided over 183,000 shelter bed nights, a 16 percent increase from the previous year. In November 2007, 55 families were on its waiting list for shelter.
Samaritan House reported that in 2007 there had been an increase in demand for beds at its Safe Harbor Shelter in South San Francisco. In 2007, all 90 beds were occupied for the entire year, whereas in the past the Shelter normally had vacant beds at some point during the summer months.
Through the county’s Project HOPE (Housing our People Effectively) plan, the City of San Mateo purchased the Vendome Hotel to create new units of permanent supportive housing for the long-term homeless. As of November 2007, six formerly homeless individuals resided at the Vendome, with more to move in as the hotel completes renovation.
See appendix page 76, CLICK HERE. Researcher: John Kittermaster