How Many People Are Homeless In Your City And State (illegal, suspect)

[catz&dogz]

Every time I log on to CDF all I read about is the homeless crisis hysteria.

It's terrible, it's horrible, it's not accurate.

The city / state / national total numbers just don't add up.

Nationally reports 500,000
State's report 550,000
City's report 600,000

Then they report a margin of error of +/- 15%

I suspect a lot of media rounding up, affordable housing band wagon'ing, political scapegoating and opportunistic finger pointing has inflated the numbers and we go right along with it.

We need an actual count.



Total number for your entire state?

Total number for each city in your state?

Total number Per Capita?

[yspobo]

There is no way to know exact numbers. The numbers reported are mostly just those staying at shelters where they do a tally. Those in the streets at night and those living in cars are typically not counted.

[Watchman57]

The government does the Point in Time survey/census 1 weekend out of entire year. Shelters, soup kitchens and Social Services is where they primarily count. Its grossly inaccurate..whatever number they come up with you can multiply by 2 or 3 and be closer to reality. There are organizations that do this full time year round. Its estimated there are 3 million Americans homeless...25% are Veterans, 1.5 million children, 40% are employed. In many areas there are NO shelters or soup kitchens and law enforcement and community are hostile to the homeless so knowing exact number impossible. In my area there is about 85-100 homeless people but nobody wants a shelter here...however they heartily approved $530,000 to pave the garbage dumpster sites and $226,000 for animal control/shelter. In my County garbage and animals have value...not homeless humans. People just make judgement against the homeless based on worst stereotype or personal opinion based on no experience or facts. Illegal foreigners get billions of dollars in aid and are treated better...sad...

[middle-aged mom]

HUD mandates an annual Point in Time headcount of homeless from any municipality that recieves federal funding for sheltering.

The count is conducted by thousands of volunteers across the US in the latter part of January.

Those sleeping in temporary shelters/ motels are the easy counts.

Counts in frigid climates are easier because most homeless are in temporary shelters.

Those living in places not intended for human occupation are far more challenging. The milder the climate, the more who are in unsheltered locations.

Then there are those living in their cars or couch surfing.

The Point in Time count becomes a public document.

[Nattering Heights]

I haven't seen one in years. Many stores closed recently, so maybe they're all inside now, or they moved to anywhere that has enough foot traffic for begging.

[MJJersey]

I don’t see homeless people so much anymore. I think they all moved to California.

[Dumbdowndemocrats]

Too many and it is a very sad affair ...

[craigiri]

Thousands in Sarasota, FL - 10's of thousands who live in sheds and old trailers not worthy of being a doghouse. But Florida allows it all because 46% of people are not making it (super low min. wage) and they have little choice. There would be 10's of thousands on the street if they didn't let old and disabled people live in old trailers and sheds.

[Frank DeForrest]

how many live on the street by choice?
Or doesn't that help make the point that those with homes need to be taxed to provide homes for those who dont?

[craigiri]

I live in the NE part of the year - I'd say perhaps 300-400 homeless in this 10 mile radius which might contain 100K people. Services galore but it's cold for a lot of the year (plenty of indoor shelters).....so it's a tough decision for them as to whether to gravitate to Florida or other places.