Homeless Statistics

Updated May 8, 2012

The table below reflects a Point In Time count of the Homeless. This is a census of persons that were identified as homeless by the HUD definition on the street (unsheltered), residing that night in a homeless emergency shelter or a Continuum of Care Transitional Housing program.  The number provides information on the average number of persons that will experience homelessness on any one day in Tarrant County. 

 *assumes same unsheltered count as 2011

On the night of January 29, 2011, the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition and over 500 volunteers and police conducted a census of the unsheltered homeless. TCHC has conducted a full census of the homeless in 2006, 2007 and 2009. The next census will occur January 2013. The 2012 and 2010 count reports are data recorded within the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).

The data reported by TCHC is not based on estimates.

• 2012 PIT Summary
• 2011 PIT Summary
• 2010 PIT Mid-Year Report (July)
• 2010 Count Brief
• 2009 Count Brief
• 2007 Count Brief
• 2007 Raw Survey Data
• 2004 Homeless Survey

 2012 HIGHLIGHTS

• 1,987 homeless persons were identified in the HMIS system residing in an emergency shelter or transitional housing program. Assuming the same amount of unsheltered homeless as the 2011 full census, 136 person, it is estimated that 2,123 persons are homeless at any one point in time in Tarrant County.
• The reduction was felt in Transitional Housing programs, but not at the emergency shelter level. Transitional Housing are programs where clients may stay up to 24 months, depending on the type of program. Clients are expecting to find affordable permanent housing but are not eligible for permanent supportive housing.
• The number of homeless Veterans declined from 207 sheltered in 2011 to 136, a 34% reduction in one year. This figure is consistent with the number of new Veteran Programs in the community including the VASH permanent supportive housing program of 155 new beds, full implementation of the MHMR Liberty House transitional housing program, the new Catholic Charities SSVF grant, The Salvation Army of Fort Worth Veterans PSH program funded through the Continuum of Care and the continuation and coordination with these agencies and the Presbyterian Night Shelter Patriot House and Soldier Support programs. *In 2011, 28 unsheltered homeless were Veterans, unsheltered were not included in this HMIS PIT count.
  
• There was a reduction in the number of chronic homelessness.  There were 181 sheltered chronic individuals and 6 sheltered chronic families. 16% of sheltered homeless were recorded as chronic compared to 26% surveyed in 2011. This figure may reflect the increase in permanent supportive housing beds added from HUD's Continuum of Care Homeless Assistance Programs and the VA VASH program.

2011 HIGHLIGHTS

• 2,169 homeless persons were identified during the full census of the homeless found unsheltered and residing in emergency shelters and transitional housing programs.
• The estimate of the number of persons that will experience homelessness in Tarrant County in 2011 is 4,847. This represents a 3.2% decrease in the annualized estimate from 2009 of 5,012. 
• The rate of homeless declined just under 1% from the 2009 full census.
• 588 or 25.8% of the homeless were children under the age of 18.

2010 HIGHLIGHTS

• 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.

© 2010 Tarrant County Homeless Coalition, All Rights Reserved.