2,087 indicator homeless persons in Travis County in 2010

We live in affordable and stable housing with access to open space and public amenities.

Indicator: Number of persons identified in the Austin/Travis County Annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count

Significance of Indicator: Homelessness is a concern that unpleasantly reminds us that in a comparatively affluent nation, many of our citizens' most basic needs are not being met says the Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO). The longer a person remains without housing, the greater their barriers to returning to stable housing will become - limited resources and support will run out, mental and physical health problems will be neglected, and drug and alcohol problems will be exacerbated by living on the streets.

what the data tell us

The number of persons identified through the annual Austin/Travis County declined from 2009 to 2010.

Definition: # of persons who were identified and counted as homeless in the Austin/Travis County Annual Point-in-Time Count

Data Source: Homeless Management Information System

Data Considerations: Annual point-in-time counts reflect only the number of people who are identified by volunteers as being homeless on a given day each year. In 2010, postponement of the annual point-in-time count due to weather issues lowered the number of participating volunteers and may have affected the number of homeless persons who were identified and counted.

The Story Behind the indicator

ECHO states that between 2005 and 2010 annual point-in-time homeless counts in Travis County identified between 1,900 and 3,500 homeless persons living either on the streets, in emergency shelters or in transitional housing in Travis County. Of these, approximately 20% are chronically homeless. However, point-in-time counts traditionally undercount families and children and do not include those living in marginal conditions such as on a friend's sofa or in a motel. In a report by ECHO, 60% homeless persons cited unemployment as the reason for their homelessness. The second most commonly cited reason was "inability to pay rent/mortgage." Very similar answers were cited by the mayors of cities that have seen an increase in homelessness. According to the U.S. Conference of Mayors 2008 Status Report on Hunger & Homelessness high unemployment and a lack of affordable housing were the two most common factors cited by cities to explain increased homelessness.

Some local efforts to improve this indicator

The Ending Community Homelessness Coalition (ECHO) is dedicated to planning, prioritizing, and developing strategies to end homelessness in Austin, TX. The overall role of the ECHO is to identify specific strategies and to oversee ongoing planning efforts and implementation of the plan to end chronic homelessness.

A Closer look at the story behind the indicators

According to ECHO, ending homelessness in our community will require an approach that addresses the issues of prevention, short-term homelessness, long-term homelessness, and highly effective coordination. Solutions would require an increase in prevention services to help individuals and families who are in crisis and at-risk of becoming homeless. Short-term services would provide temporary or emergency shelter to those in need. Permanent supportive housing is mostly for chronically homeless people who generally have severe physical or mental health issues. These services would be supplemented by highly effective coordination led by ECHO which includes focused strategic planning, data reporting, and funding coordination at the local level. ECHO is gauging their effectiveness in ending homelessness by tracking indicators for each of the issues that they are addressing. The coalition is currently developing strategies to help them achieve their goals.