The biennial count of Washtenaw County’s homeless population, on January 28, was encouraging. Outreach workers and community volunteers counted only eighty people “unsheltered”–sleeping outdoors in cars, tents, or sleeping bags under bridges–fewer than half the 166 counted in 2013.
Washtenaw Housing Alliance director Amanda Carlisle credits steps taken last fall that made it easier for people to get into shelter: relaxed admissions criteria at the Delonis Center and a second warming shelter housed at a rotating roster of churches. Colder weather this year than during the last count in 2013 may also have driven more people to seek shelter–but that number, too, was down: a total of 307 individuals were found in shelters or temporary housing, compared to 344 in 2013. Combining both measures, the number of unhoused people dropped 24 percent.
It’s not likely many were missed. “It’s the most comprehensive count to date,” says Carlisle, noting that a large volunteer turnout allowed them to cover more ground than in past years.
All that is good news for the county’s ambitious plan, first laid out in 2004, to end chronic homelessness. Carlisle is optimistic that they’ll continue to make progress. A key change has been with “rapid re-housing,” moving people into long-term housing even if they haven’t achieved sobriety. When backed by intensive support services, Carlisle says, it’s more effective and cheaper than older “transitional housing” programs. With more affordable housing under construction, Carlisle believes “the stars are aligned” to eliminate chronic homelessness among military veterans this year and countywide by 2016.
Even if they’re successful with that ambitious goal, “We know now that just getting folks housing isn’t enough,” cautions John Stacy of the county’s Project Outreach Team (PORT). The chronically homeless–many of whom are employed–often struggle with financial, psychological, and addiction issues and may require daily help even after getting permanent housing. “Do we have enough money [for support services]? That’s a big concern,” Carlisle says.
Both on and off the street, the people in greatest danger are those suffering from “trimorbidity”–the triple threat of mental illness, physical illness, and substance abuse. In a tragic reminder of how many people remain vulnerable, just two weeks after the count a man was found dead in a tent near the train station.
