East Texas Human Needs Network, Tyler, TX
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2013_homelessness_report_power_point.pdf
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flow_of_services.pdf
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2013_smith_county_homelessness_assessment_report.pdf
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2013 Smith County Homelessness Assessment Report

Key Findings

Homelessness by the numbers:
  • 238 homeless persons were found on the night of January 24, 2013. Of those identified that night, 181 (76%) were adults and 57 (24%) were children. 
  • Point in time homeless estimate is 435 people on any given night with an annualized homeless estimate of 961 moving in and out of homelessness in one year. 
  • Thirty-nine percent of homeless respondents were female, an increase of 6%; 61% were male.  
  • Many races and ethnicities are represented in the Smith County homeless population with 71% identifying as white and 25% identifying as African-American. Nearly 10% stated their ethnicity was of Hispanic/Latino descent. 
  • Across the spectrum, single individuals represent the highest percent of respondents in our surveyed population at 74%. Homelessness in Families with children continues to rise and makes up 18% of the population. 
  • Median age of adults was 41 years old; children’s median age was 10 years old.
  • Military veterans are homeless at a higher rate than other groups. In Smith County, 21% of our surveyed populations are classified as veterans, a 2% increase over last year. Sadly, 70% of those identified are not receiving VA benefits.

 Homelessness trends:
  • There was a decrease in the number of people staying on the streets, those precariously housed, and those in transitional housing; this resulted in a shift with more of those individuals seeking assistance from Emergency Shelters*
  • First time homelessness remains the same at 56%. 
  • Chronic homelessness, those homeless continuously for a year or more, or those experiencing homelessness at least four times in the past three years decreased 4%.
  • Those experiencing homelessness two to three times in the past three years decreased by 5%. 
  • Those experiencing homelessness are remaining homeless longer periods of time, in 2010 the average homelessness lasted 90 days, this year the average homelessness lasts 150 days. 

Reasons for homelessness:
  • Lack of employment and the inability to pay rent or mortgages are the most significant reasons for becoming homeless 39% and 30%, divorce accounts for 19%, and domestic violence accounts for 16%.
  • Historically, the number one reason for unemployment is lack of transportation.

Self reported needs of those experiencing homelessness:
  • Top five needs are transportation (55%), basic needs (food/clothing) (54%) job training and placement (53%), Food stamps (46%) and case management (32%).

 TO VIEW AND PRINT A FULL COPY OF THE REPORT, CLICK HERE.



ETHNN   I   PO Box 7042, Tyler, TX 75711   I   903.216.3211​
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  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • We are listening!
    • Meetings >
      • Meeting Notes
  • COLLECTIVE ACTION
  • UNDERSTANDING POVERTY
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  • CALENDAR
  • ECONOMIC WELLBEING
  • DONATE