There was a slight decrease in the number of Montgomery County homeless people from 2006 to 2007, but homeless advocates say there’s no real victory yet.
The 2007 report from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments shows 1,139 homeless in Montgomery County, 2 percent less than the 1,164 homeless in the 2006 results. The total number is still about 6 percent higher than the 1,078 Montgomery County homeless people in 2005.
“I personally don’t think it’s significant,” said Sharan London, executive director of Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless. “It’s been pretty stable over the past three years. I’d love to see a real decrease.”
Michael Ferrell, executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless in Washington, said “at the very least, from an optimistic perspective, the problem has not gotten any worse.”
Ferrell said roughly 56 percent of the adults in Montgomery County homeless families are employed.
“It’s really distressing to think that people who get up and go to work every day still can’t find housing that they can afford throughout this region,” Ferrell said.
According to Ferrell, Montgomery County has been a leader in setting aside housing for low- and moderate-income households, but there is still room for improvement.
London said she hoped the county would continue to support efforts to fund homelessness-prevention programs because “once a low-income family or individual loses their housing, it’s very difficult to get it back.”
Ferrell echoed the need for assistance before people find themselves on the streets.
“Sometimes people have hiccups in their lives, short-term unemployment, medical issues, things of that nature,” Ferrell said. “And if they get too far behind on their rent, they get evicted. It’s important they get help before that happens.”
Ferrell and London recommend the county provide more funds for emergency rental assistance and preservation of low- and middle-income housing.
London said increasing the minimum wage also would be helpful.
“If you earn minimum wage in Montgomery County, you still have to work more than three full-time jobs to afford a two-bedroom apartment,” London said.
