Transcript Homelessness in Alaska

Counting the Homeless in
Alaska
Kris Duncan MSW
Alaska Housing Finance Corp.
[email protected]
907-330-8276
Alaska is a huge state! If you were to imagine it
positioned over the Lower 48, Alaska would stretch
from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean.
How AK defines “RURAL”
A community of 6,500 or less that is not connected
by road or rail to Anchorage or Fairbanks. Or, a
community of 1,600 or less that is connected by
road or rail to Anchorage or Fairbanks and at
least 50 statute miles outside of Anchorage or 25
statute miles outside of Fairbanks. In this
definition, “connected by road” does not include
a connection by the Alaska Marine Highway
System or roads outside the boundary of the
State of Alaska.
Alaska: many settlements – few roads
Distance & Cost from Anchorage
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Fairbanks: 358 miles/$247 r.t.
Juneau: 571 miles/$310 r.t.
Barrow: 725/$553 r.t.
Nome: 540 miles/$417 r.t.
Kodiak: 252 miles/$223 r.t.
Aleutians (Unalaska): 800 miles/$898 r.t.
Bethel: 399 miles/$352 r.t.
Counting Challenges
• Very few emergency shelters for the
general population (mostly DV)
• Outreach efforts are inconsistent
• Enumerator training is difficult logistically
AK is in for the long haul!
• Point In Time (PIT) Count since 1995
• Conducted every January and July
• Supported by providers
– Input on development & modifications
– Reports used for other agency purposes
• Kept as simple as possible to stimulate a
higher response rate
PIT Partners
• Homeless school liaisons
– Teacher Housing Initiative (stick!)
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Food pantries
Public health clinics
Public assistance offices
Faith Based & Community Initiative (FCBI)
Native housing/Tribal service agencies
Technical Assistance
• Printed instructions
• Workshops
• Coalition presentations
• Toll-free help desk
AHFC Homeless Survey
Contact:
Agency Name
Program Name
Address
Phone
E-mail
Date Completed:
SURVEY FORM
Last 4 Digits of
Social Security
Number
A
If a family
Is Person a
w/children, indicate
Single Individual, # of children under
What is What Is What is in a Family, or in the age of 18 by
Is Person a
Person's Person's Person's
a Family with
gender (e.g. 2-M, 1Military
Initials Gender?
Age?
Children?
F)
Veteran?
B
C
D
E
F
G
What Is
Person's
Race?
Where slept last
night? S=Shelter,
T=Transitional,
U=Unsheltered(camp
or car), F= Family or
Friends, M=Motel
H
I
Meets
Chronic
Homeless
Definition?
Person's Disability?
M=Mental Illness,
P=Physical Disability,
D=Developmental
Disability, O=Other
Disability, N=No
Disability, ?=Unknown.
Does Person
Report
Substance
Abuse?
Victim of
Domestic
Violence?
On the AHFC
Waiting List
for Sect. 8 or
Public
Housing?
J
K
L
M
N
Domestic Violence Partners
• Met with statewide DV provider network
• Examined HUD CoC Chart
• Brainstormed duplicate possibilities
• Developed aggregate survey instrument
Fairbanks Homeless Count - January 2007
Part 1: Homeless Population
Sheltered
Unsheltered
Total
Emergency
Transitional
1. Number of Households with Dependent
Children
16
4
0
20
1a. Number of Persons in these Households
(adults & children)
43
13
0
56
2. Number of Households without dependent
children
72
7
17
96
72
7
17
96
115
20
17
152
Unsheltered
Total
2
35
2a. Total Number of Persons in these Households
Total Persons (lines 1a +2a)
Part 2: Homeless Subpopulations
Sheltered
a. Chronically Homeless
27
b. Severely Mentally Ill
4
c. Chronic Substance Abuse
32
5
2
39
d. Veterans
14
0
1
15
e. Persons with HIV/AIDS
0
0
0
0
f. Victims of Domestic Violence
51
16
0
67
g. Unaccompanied Youth -under 18 yrs
0
0
5
5
6
4
Fairbanks Homeless Count - January 2007
Part 3: Homeless Population
Not Recognized by HUD
Total
With Family/Friends
Motel (Temporary)
1. Number of Households with Dependent
Children
2
1
3
1a. Number of Persons in these Households
(adults & children)
7
2
9
2. Number of Households without dependent
children
50
1
51
2a. Total Number of Persons in these
Households
50
1
51
Total Persons (lines 1a +2a)
57
3
60
With Family/Friends
Motel (Temporary)
Total
Part 3a: Homeless Subpopulations
a. Chronically Homeless
1
1
b. Severely Mentally Ill
1
1
c. Chronic Substance Abuse
3
3
d. Veterans
5
5
e. Persons with HIV/AIDS
f. Victims of Domestic Violence
2
g. Unaccompanied Youth -under 18 yrs
26
1
3
26
Looking Ahead
• HMIS? Not likely
• State data warehouse? Possibly
• Dept. of Corrections coordinating
• Fewer homeless means an easier count!!!