2009 DuPage County CoC Homeless Population and Subpopulations

K: CoC Point-in-Time Homeless Population and Subpopulations Chart
Complete the following chart based on the most recent point-in-time count conducted. Your CoC must have completed a point in time count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons during the last week in January 2009.

NOTE: For each category, the number of households must be less than or equal to the numer of persons.

*Optional for unsheltered homeless subpopulations
CHART INFORMATION

HOMELESS POPULATIONS CHART DESCRIPTION

A. SHELTERED COUNT

The sheltered population was counted using a manual survey completed by 17 homeless service agencies for all their programs. The Provider Survey tool used was the instrument developed by the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) as part of the Regional Homeless Needs Assessment. It was used because it provided a point-in-time count within all homeless programs based on a statistically valid survey tool.. The data on the survey was completed with the assistance of a trained interviewer using the administrative records of each homeless provider. This enhanced the accuracy of the responses. All data reflects the night of January 22, 2009. Providers used individual client records (e.g., case management files) to provide subpopulation data for each adult and unaccompanied youth.

• On January 22, 2009 there were 695 homeless persons counted compared to 766 in the 2007 count.
• There were 587 persons in emergency shelters and transitional housing compared to 642 persons in the 2007 count.
• There were 184 persons in shelter compared to 190 in the 2007 count.
• There were 403 persons in Transitional Housing compared to 452 persons in the 2007 count.
  

B. UNSHELTERED COUNT

• There were 108 unsheltered persons - 102 individuals and 9 persons who were part of three family units.
• This is a decrease from 124 unsheltered persons in the 2007 count - 122 individuals and 22 persons who were part of 8 family units.

The method used for completing the "unsheltered" part of the Homeless Populations Chart was observation in real time on the night of January 22, 2009 into the morning of Friday, January 23rd, 2009 conducted by Continuum Community Teams along with the police in each of the 32 municipalities.
The Community Teams consisted of CoC Street Count committee members, homeless consumers and community volunteers. The survey hours of 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. were chosen because shelter patrons must be accounted for by 10:00 p.m. Other public areas such as local bars and taverns closed around 1:00 a.m.

Unsheltered persons counted were those observed by the Teams and those encountered on the regular police patrols. All Team members provided outreach efforts and attempted to obtain interview information. The police had a survey form with instructions and obtained basic characteristics of all the homeless persons they observed. Gift bags were distributed. Continuum Community Teams canvassed locations identified by homeless persons as "hot spots" for congregating in 15 municipalities. In addition, hospital emergency rooms at Elmhurst, Alexian Brothers, Central DuPage, Good Samaritan, Hinsdale, Edward, Glen Oaks, Linden Oaks Hospitals reported unsheltered homeless persons that night. These were counted by each hospital social worker and reported back to the Street Count committee.

2009 DuPage CoC Unsheltered Count Procedures

1) Conduct Focus groups with homeless individuals to obtain specifics about where to locate unsheltered individuals: Provide incentive for all that participate in focus group.

2) Provide any homeless person/formerly homeless person that participates in one night count as a volunteer with an incentive such as a hot meal.

3) Entire county will be covered with a combination of observation by police and known locations with volunteer teams. This provides the most complete canvassing.

4) However, non-duplication techniques must be utilized; - i..e., make sure the police are not observing in the same area as the volunteer team. Also make sure the volunteer teams are at their different locations at the same time. (under the theory that a person cannot be in 2 places at once).

5) Canvas the known locations first. Fifteen areas have been identified from consumer input and past observation.

6) After determining where the volunteer teams will be, then contact the police departments.

7) Identify police relationships that are present now. Letter to police should explain:

a. Reason for the survey
b. Request for partnership with their patrol officers or whoever they designate.
c. Work toward support of the police chief in designated areas.

8) Volunteer Teams for known locations areas:

a. 1 homeless/formerly homeless person on each team if possible
b. Team should consist of 3-4 individuals.
c. Each team should have professional who actually does interview or records results.

9) Hours of street count: 11 pm to 2am. There will be a uniform time for all Community Team volunteers to be in different locations to avoid duplication of persons.

10) Provide goodie bags to unsheltered persons on the night of the count even if they do not participate in the interview.

11) Seek funds to provide for these incentives.

12) Volunteer Training includes:

a. Purpose and goals of the Street Count.
b. Training on completing the Interview survey
c. Timeframes to eliminate duplication
d. What to do in an emergency
e. Distribute map and directions to identified known locations.
f. Communication strategies between groups
g. Ensure each team has supplies:

i. Flashlight
ii. Clip boards
iii. Forms
iv. Incentives - goodie bags