Homelessness in Ann Arbor by the numbers

We know these are not just numbers, but human beings who don’t have a permanent place to call home with some of them inhabiting places that “are unfit for human habitation”. The weather forecast for 2/14/15 predicts snow showers, a high of 23 degrees, and a low of -10 degrees. Something to think about as we celebrate Valentine’s Day.

A report in the Ann Arbor News, "By the numbers: A quick look at the Ann Arbor area's homeless population" by Ryan Stanton, 2/11/15/, shows the results of two surveys of the homeless population in Washtenaw County, Michigan. A snap-shot survey required by HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) showed 387 people were homeless on January 28, 2015. The second survey is part of a national campaign to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015 and chronic homelessness by 2016. It includes more data and shows larger numbers than the first survey.

Here are figures I selected from the HUD survey that show the number of homeless people according to their various vulnerabilities, including chronic health problems and mental illness:

• 307: The number of homeless people who were found in shelters or transitional housing on the day of the count.
• 80: The number of homeless people found on the streets or in other places not meant for human habitation, including camp sites.
• 24: The number of sheltered veterans; 5: The number of unsheltered veterans.
• 53: The number of sheltered people with a severe mental illness; 41: The number of unsheltered people with a severe mental illness.
• 23: The number of sheltered people with a chronic substance abuse problem; 21: The number of unsheltered people with a chronic substance abuse problem.

The Zero: 2016 surveys provide additional data on people with chronic health and mental illness and other vulnerabilities:

• 334: The total number of homeless people surveyed.
• 224: The number of homeless people who were identified as being particularly vulnerable; 20 percent reported being violently attacked since becoming homeless and 25 percent reported being homeless for more than two years.
• 350: The number of emergency room visits in the past six months among the people surveyed; 174: The number of hospitalizations in the past six months; 115: The number of ambulance transports to the hospital in the past six months; 49: The number of people who indicated they've had three or more ER visits in the past six months.
• 165: The number of people who reported chronic health conditions; 243: The number of people who reported mental health conditions; 176: The number of people who reported substance use issues.
• 88: The number of people who reported all three: mental health, substance use and chronic health conditions. 
• 37: The percentage of chronically homeless people who reported all three: mental health, substance use and chronic health conditions.