Politics & Government

Homeless Population in Montgomery County Increases Slightly From Last Year

Slow down in growth of affordable housing cited as a significant problem

Last year, it looked like the first signs of success for the county's Housing First initiative were reflected in fewer homeless people in the county overall.

In the beginning of 2010, over 400 people had left emergency shelters or living outside to move into permanent supportive housing, where the county provides support and a subsidy according to need. The total number of people who were homeless in the county dropped 10 percent, from 1194 to 1064, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council on Governments' [COG] yearly enumeration of homelessness in the region.

But in spite of a few more people moving into permanent supportive housing in 2010, the county’s total homeless population increased this year, back up to 1132 people.

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“It’s sort of like last year was a blip,” said Kim Ball, homeless service administrator at Montgomery County’s Department of Health and Human Services.

She added that federal stimulus funds helped with the department’s rapid rehousing and homelessness prevention initiatives, but those funds are drying up.

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“We can’t prevent as many now,” she said.

Overall, Montgomery County has the third highest count in the region of homeless people, behind the District and Fairfax County. Fourty-five percent of this population is chronically homeless , i.e. they have been so for a year or more or have had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. Thirty-six percent have suffered domestic abuse.

The report found few people who were homeless as a result of foreclosures. Many people in this situation “double-up” with friends or family, and COG doesn’t include this in their definition of homeless.

Over five years, there’s been a clear difference between homelessness in families and homelessness in individuals. From 2007 to 2011, the number of homeless individuals increased 19 percent in the county while the number of total people in families decreased 25 percent. Whether that means families have been more successful in finding permanent housing or family units are being broken up is unclear.

Many of the homeless in the county are also working, or have some sort of income. 49 percent of the county’s homeless adults in families are employed. Of homeless adults in families that reported income, 10 percent reported a monthly income of over $2000.

Ball says this shows the effect of housing prices in Montgomery County.

“With the lack of growth of affordable housing, it’s become a major issue.” Ball said, adding that many of their clients are moving to Prince George’s County or Howard County, where housing costs are less expensive.

The COG’s full report is available online and in the media box next to the article.


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