San Diego Homeless Assessment - PATH

© People Assisting The Homeless May 2010

Downtown San Diego Homeless Downtown San Diego Homeless Assessment Assessment

Core AreaCore Area


Project OverviewProject Overview

PATH typically conducts surveys in the communities in PATH typically conducts surveys in the communities in which it serves in order to assess the neighborhood and which it serves in order to assess the neighborhood and design housing strategies.design housing strategies.

PATH Street Outreach Team and SDPD Homeless PATH Street Outreach Team and SDPD Homeless Outreach Team conducted surveys in Downtown San Outreach Team conducted surveys in Downtown San Diego on May 17Diego on May 17th th and 18and 18thth. .

Surveys used contained 36 questions identifying key Surveys used contained 36 questions identifying key factors determining homelessness in the area. factors determining homelessness in the area.

The PATH Outreach Team offered $5 Subway gift cards The PATH Outreach Team offered $5 Subway gift cards as an incentive for their cooperation. as an incentive for their cooperation.


Project Overview – Team Project Overview – Team PicturePicture


Interview MethodologyInterview Methodology

3 or more team members, made up of 3 or more team members, made up of PATH Outreach Staff and San Diego PATH Outreach Staff and San Diego Police Department Homeless Outreach Police Department Homeless Outreach TeamTeam

Covered designated boundaries within Covered designated boundaries within downtown area – the Core Area.downtown area – the Core Area.

Counted sectors on first day and Counted sectors on first day and conducted surveys on the secondconducted surveys on the second

Asked each person encountered to Asked each person encountered to participateparticipate


Core Area Homeless Core Area Homeless CountCount

RedRed = 1 Person = 1 Person

YellowYellow = 2-4 Persons = 2-4 Persons

GreenGreen = 5-8 Persons = 5-8 Persons

House = House = Encampment, tents. Encampment, tents. (unknown number of (unknown number of persons)persons)

Actual count at 5:00 AMActual count at 5:00 AMMay 17, 2010May 17, 2010

Actual:Actual:246 People246 People

Assessment:Assessment:275-300 Persons 275-300 Persons


Interview QuestionsInterview Questions

DemographicsDemographics Health Risk IndicatorsHealth Risk Indicators Institutional History (prison, foster Institutional History (prison, foster

care, medical)care, medical) Employment, Benefits, and CitizenshipEmployment, Benefits, and Citizenship Alcohol & Drug usageAlcohol & Drug usage Questions specific to the San Diego Questions specific to the San Diego

AreaArea


Interview ResultsInterview Results

43 interviews attempted43 interviews attempted

38 interviews completed (15.4% 38 interviews completed (15.4% of total population in Core Area)of total population in Core Area)

5 refusals due to varying factors5 refusals due to varying factors


Interview ResultsInterview Results

50% of those surveyed have only 50% of those surveyed have only been homeless in the City of San been homeless in the City of San DiegoDiego

Average length of time in San Average length of time in San Diego: 19 years.Diego: 19 years.

92% responded that they 92% responded that they normally sleep in Downtown San normally sleep in Downtown San DiegoDiego


What cities have you been homeless What cities have you been homeless in?in?

97%

3%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

San Diego Elswhere in CA


Length of HomelessnessLength of Homelessness

6

13 13

0

31

2

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0-11months

1-2 Years 3-5 Years 6-8 Years 9-11Years

12-14Years

15+Years

Nu

mb

er o

f P

eop

le

Longest Length of Homelessness = 20 years

Average length= 3.85 years


High needs populationHigh needs population

66% report a serious health 66% report a serious health condition; 45% with no health condition; 45% with no health insurance.insurance.

42% abuse drugs and alcohol.42% abuse drugs and alcohol.

50% dealing with mental health 50% dealing with mental health conditionsconditions


Serious Health Serious Health ConditionCondition

66%

34%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No


Health InsuranceHealth Insurance

45%

26%

5% 8%3%

16%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

None MediCal VA Medicare Private CMS


Health Services UtilizedHealth Services Utilized

26%

16%8%

29%

5%

18% 16%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

FHCDowntown

FHC Logan ScrippsMercy

UCSD MedCtr

VA Other None


Mental Health IssuesMental Health Issues

50%

5%

45%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Refused/Unknown

(Self-reported responses from the population surveyed.)


AgeAge

32%

8%

21%29%

11%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Less than 31 31-40 Years 41-50 Years 51-60 Years 61-70 Years

Average Age is 43 years old (National avg lifespan for homeless person is 55 yrs)

Ages ranged from 18 - 66


Race and EthnicityRace and Ethnicity

16%

76%

5% 3% 5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

African American White Asian American Indian Hispanic


GenderGender

45%

53%

3%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Female Male Transgender


Circumstances leading to Circumstances leading to HomelessnessHomelessness

42%39%

3%

11%5% 5%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Lost Job LostHousing

Death offamily

SubstanceAbuse

MentalHealth

Condition

Divorce


VeteransVeterans

8

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Of the 8 veterans surveyed (21% of total), 6 were discharged honorably.


Incarcerated in JailIncarcerated in Jail

61%

39%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No


Incarcerated in PrisonIncarcerated in Prison(Felony criminal record)(Felony criminal record)

16%

84%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes NoAverage time spent in prison = 8 years


History of Foster CareHistory of Foster Care

13%

81%

6%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Yes No Refused / Unknown

Note: Average across other cities assessed by PATH approx 9%


Income SourceIncome Source

32%24%

3% 3% 3%

21%

8%

24%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

SSI FoodStamps

VA SSDI/SSA Work offthe books

Panhandling Recycling None


Income Earned Per Income Earned Per MonthMonth

46%

16%

3% 5%

24%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

$0-100 $100-250 $250-500 $500-750 $750-1000


Access to Homeless Access to Homeless AgenciesAgencies

5%

42%

13%8% 5%

21%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Alpha Project St. Vincent's CatholicCharities

SD RescueMission

Salvation Army Rachel'sProject


Access to Public Access to Public ServicesServices

5%5%

26%

3%0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

VA DMH SSA DPSS


Key Findings in the Core Key Findings in the Core AreaArea

The majority are The majority are chronically homelesschronically homeless (Avg 4 years on (Avg 4 years on the streets)the streets)

• Population Population indigenous to San Diegoindigenous to San Diego (19 yrs in SD, (19 yrs in SD, either housed or homeless)either housed or homeless)

• 32% have 32% have family members in SDfamily members in SD• People are People are staying within the Corestaying within the Core Area Area• People in the Core Area are People in the Core Area are more housing-readymore housing-ready than than

others. (45% are eligible for subsidized housing others. (45% are eligible for subsidized housing immediately)immediately)

• Majority have Majority have high needshigh needs (health & mental health) (health & mental health)• 45% are 45% are womenwomen


A Special Thank-You A Special Thank-You to:to:

San Diego Police Department San Diego Police Department Homeless Outreach TeamHomeless Outreach Team

ALPHA Project Outreach TeamALPHA Project Outreach Team

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San Diego Homeless Assessment - PATH