Homelessness increased this year and likely will rise again next year as local governments grapple with tight budgets and federal stimulus money dries up. The Washington area has 11,988 homeless men, women and children, a 2 percent increase since 2007, according to the Jan. 27 point-in-time homeless enumeration by the Greater Washington Council of Governments
Homeless Services Planning and Coordinating Committee, set to be released Friday.
At the end of each January, volunteers and staff count homeless people on the streets and in shelters in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Chairman Michael Ferrell said the weak economy combined with the area’s
high cost of living make homelessness inevitable.
“Even if an individual or head of household is homeless and employed, odds are they are making minimum wage, and that’s not adequate,” Ferrell said. Employed people make up just under half of homeless families.
Neil Donovan, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said he has seen an increase in homeless families, as opposed to individuals, mirroring the count’s results.
“In the past, these are people that would go to the department of human services and get a hotel,” he said. “Now [with budget cuts] they are doubling up, staying in cars or staying in buildings not meant for habitation.”
Of the nine participating jurisdictions, Prince William County had the most drastic change, with a 38 percent increase from last year. Arlington had the biggest drop, down 13 percent.
Despite having the highest foreclosure rate in the state, Prince George’s County’s homelessness fell 34 percent since 2007, making it the county with the biggest decrease.
Prince George’s County Executive Rushern Baker proposed a $7 million homeless shelter and housing resource center, vying for approval this summer, to continue battling the issue.
Ferrell said that while homelessness is off its peak, he is worried.
“It is a major concern that next year will look [worse],” he told the Greater Washington Council of Governments Wednesday.
