Homeless Statistics

On the night of January 29, 2009, the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition and 576 volunteers and police conducted a census of the unsheltered homeless. TCHC has conducted a count of the homeless in 2006, 2007 and 2009. The next census will occur January 2011. The 2009 survey and census is a report of data recorded from homeless persons surveyed on January 29, 2009 and data recorded within the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

On January 28, 2010, the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition conducted a Point-In-Time Census (PIT) of all people living in emergency shelters and in transitional housing through the HMIS. A Census of homeless who are unsheltered will not take place until January 2011.

The data reported by TCHC is not based on estimates.

• 2010 Count Brief
• 2009 Count Brief
• 2007 Count Brief
•   2007 Raw Survey Data
• 2004 Homeless Survey

2010 RESULTS

• 2,022 homeless persons were identified in emergency shelters and in transitional housing programs.
• The proportion of the homeless who are children has increased from 25% to 30% since 2009.
• There were 2% more persons residing Emergency Shelters in 2010 than one year ago.
• There were 1.64% more person in Transitional Housing programs.
• The number of sheltered homeless increased for the first time since 2006 when TCHC began conducting comprehensive census of the homeless.
• The number of sheltered homeless increased by 1.78%, or 36 persons.
• The census did not include the unsheltered homeless. TCHC counts this segment of the homeless every other year.
• Improved count in Transitional Housing increasing the use of available beds from prior count.

2009 Results

• 2,181 homeless persons were identified on the streets, in emergency shelters, and in transitional housing programs.
• There was a 18.5% decrease in the number of homeless from 2007 to 2009.
• 195 persons were unsheltered, 32 were women, up from 12 women identified on the streets in 2007.
• It is estimated from this point in time count that 5,012 persons will experience homelessness in Tarrant County in 2009.
• 24.99% of the homeless were children. No children were found unsheltered.
• 467 homeless persons were 51 or older, 86 were 62 or older.
• 209 (15.7%) were chronically homeless, defined as having a disability, being unaccompanied, and having been homeless a year or more or 4 or more episodes of homelessness in the last 3 years; down from 16.65% in 2007. 32% of the unsheltered were chronically homeless.
• 509 persons are at risk for becoming chronically homelessness presenting as unaccompanied, suffering a chronic disability, and approaching a year or more of homelessness.
• Emergency Shelters were at 84.4% capacity of beds available and Transitional Housing programs were at 86.4% capacity.

CONTINUUM OF CARE (CoC) CHANGES IMPACTING REDUCTION AND DATA QUALITY

• The CoC has a higher accuracy in data collected in the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) due to increased number of case managers utilizing and recording client information and the mandate of ID scan cards by all emergency shelters.  TCHC implemented a greater level of strategic planning in the unsheltered census utilizing all HUD recommended best practices.
• Addition of 146 permanent supportive housing beds since 2007  (Day Resource Center, Presbyterian Night Shelter, and Fort Worth Housing Authority) funded by the HUD CoC Samaritan Bonus in 2005, 2006, 2007).
• 78% of permanent supportive housing clients have retained their housing for 6 months or more due to quality case management.