Santa Cruz County Homeless Census
Content
SANTA CRUZ COUNTY
HOMELESS CENSUS & SURVEY
executive summary
E ve r y t w o ye a r s i n J a n u a r y, co m m u n i t i e s a c ro s s t h e co u n t r y co n d u c t co m p re h e n s i ve
co u n t s of t h e i r h o m e l e s s p o p u l a t i o n to g a i n a b e t te r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e i n d i v i d u a l s a n d
f a m i l i e s w h o a re c u r re n t l y e x p e r i e n c i n g h o m e l e s s n e s s .
2015
T h e 20 1 5 S a n t a C r uz C o u n t y Po i n t- i n -T i m e C o u n t w a s a co m m u n i t y - w i d e e f fo r t co n d u c te d o n J a n u a r y 22, 20 1 5. I n t h e
w e e k s fo l l ow i n g t h e s t re e t co u n t , a s u r ve y w a s a d m i n i s te re d to 3 4 4 u n s h e l te re d a n d s h e l te re d h o m e l e s s i n d i v i d u a l s
i n o r d e r to p rof i l e t h e i r ex p e r i e n ce a n d c h a r a c te r i s t i c s .
34+28+23+28+35+20
20
2,789
09
11
2,771
2,265
13
3,536
31% Sheltered (n=610)
37%
2%
21%
9%
On the street
Abandoned buildings
Cars/ Vans/ RVs
Encampment Areas
11%
15
1469+30+1
71
Emergency Shelter
Transitional Housing
AGE
GENDER
15%
14%
69%
1%
Men
Women
57+37+28+5
57%
30%
71%
K
72
+
28
RACE/ETHNICITY
(TOP 4 RESPONSES)
Transgender
White
37%
28%
Latino
Multiracial
FIRST TIME HOMELESSNESS
46 Yes (28%)
54 No (72%)
RESIDENCE AT TIME OF
HOMELESSNESS
45%
of those experiencing
homelessness for the
first time had been
homeless for one
year or more
8+37+56
DURATION OF HOMELESSNESS
56%
37%
8%
30 days
or less
1,964
UNSHELTERED INCLUDES:
20%
25+
15
69% Unsheltered (n=1,354)
SHELTERED INCLUDES:
Under 18
18-24
20
07
20
3,371
20
05
20
20
HOMELESS CENSUS ELEVEN-YEAR TREND
1-11
months
1 year
or more
5%
Black or
African
American
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
(currently
experiencing)
FOSTER CARE
(respondents that have
ever been in the system)
i du
div
3 in
24%
als
2
OBSTACLES TO OBTAINING PERMANENT
HOUSING
Santa Cruz County
84%
$
LENGTH OF TIME IN SANTA
CRUZ COUNTY (of those living in
Santa Cruz County at time of homelessness)
5+95 21+79 14+86 60+40
Less than
1 year
(5%)
1-4
years
(21%)
5-9
years
(14%)
10 years
or more
(60%)
JOBS
Couldn’t afford
rent | 61%
No job/
income | 59%
No money for moving
costs | 33%
No housing availability | 27%
A health condition is defined
here as a physical disability,
mental illness, chronic
depression, alcohol or
drug abuse, chronic health
problems, HIV/AIDS, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD), or a developmental
disability.
41++16138352433
10+10+10+10+10+10+10
What is
a health
condition?
INCARCERATION
HEALTH CONDITIONS
53%
Drug or alcohol abuse (41%)
of survey
respondents
reported a
health
condition.
Psychiatric or emotional conditions (38%)
Physical disability (35%)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (24%)
Chronic health problems (33%)
Traumatic brain injury (16%)
32%
spent at least 1 or
more nights in jail
or prison in the
past 12 months.
INCOME
AIDS/HIV related (1%)
$
449
or less
is the amount that 44%
of respondents
reported as their
total monthly income.
Note: Multiple
response question,
numbers will not
total to 100%.
86%
of survey respondents
said YES when asked if
they would want safe,
affordable permanent
housing were it available.
YES!
SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE
SUBPOPULATION DATA
Government services received
CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS
512 Individuals
27%
73%
Sheltered
Unsheltered
40%
60%
30 Families with 70 members
An adult with a disabling condition or a family
with at least one adult member with a disabling
condition who:
»» Has been continuously homeless for 1 year or
more and/or;
»» Has experienced 4 or more episodes of
homelessness within the past 3 years.
VETERANS
155 Individuals
Veterans are persons who have served on active
duty in the Armed Forces of the United States.
This does not include inactive military reserves or
the National Guard unless the person was called
up to active duty.
(Top 3 Responses)
46%
32%
Food Stamps
17%
None of them
SSI/SSDI
Reasons for NOT receiving government services
(Top 3 Responses)
35%
31%
Never
applied
Don’t think
you are eligible
27%
Sheltered
18%
No
permanent
address
FAMILIES
144 Families with 481 members
65%
Sheltered
68%
of respondents reported
receiving government
benefits
32%
reported were NOT
receiving any
government benefits
73%
Unsheltered
UNACCOMPANIED
CHILDREN
30 Individuals
TRANSITION-AGE
YOUTH
242 Individuals
7%
Sheltered
9%
Sheltered
35%
Unsheltered
93%
Unsheltered
91%
Unsheltered
A household with at least one adult member
(persons 18 or older) and at least one child
member (persons under 18).
“Unaccompanied Children” are children under
the age of 18 who are homeless and living
independent of a parent or legal guardian.
Homeless youth are defined as individuals
between the ages of 18 and 24 years old.
summary
T h e s e d a t a p rov i d e a s n a p s h o t of t h o s e ex p e r i e n c i n g h o m e l e s s n e s s i n t h e S a n t a C r uz C o u n t y o n J a n u a r y 22, 20 1 5.
T h e re p o r t p rov i d e s a b a s i c e s t i m a t i o n of t h e n u m b e r a n d c h a r a c te r i s t i c s of t h o s e e x p e r i e n c i n g h o m e l e s s n e s s o n
a n y g i ve n n i g h t i n o r d e r to i n fo r m f u t u re s e r v i ce p l a n n i n g a n d p rov i s i o n i n g e f fo r t s .
S o u rce: A p p l i e d S u r ve y Re s e a rc h . ( 20 1 5 ). S a n t a C r uz C o u n t y H o m e l e s s C e n s u s & S u r ve y. Wa t s o n v i l l e, C A .
F o r m o re d e t a i l o r to v i e w t h e co m p re h e n s i ve re p o r t , p l e a s e v i s i t w w w. a p p l i e d s u r ve y re s e a rc h .o r g .
HOMELESS CENSUS & SURVEY
executive summary
E ve r y t w o ye a r s i n J a n u a r y, co m m u n i t i e s a c ro s s t h e co u n t r y co n d u c t co m p re h e n s i ve
co u n t s of t h e i r h o m e l e s s p o p u l a t i o n to g a i n a b e t te r u n d e r s t a n d i n g of t h e i n d i v i d u a l s a n d
f a m i l i e s w h o a re c u r re n t l y e x p e r i e n c i n g h o m e l e s s n e s s .
2015
T h e 20 1 5 S a n t a C r uz C o u n t y Po i n t- i n -T i m e C o u n t w a s a co m m u n i t y - w i d e e f fo r t co n d u c te d o n J a n u a r y 22, 20 1 5. I n t h e
w e e k s fo l l ow i n g t h e s t re e t co u n t , a s u r ve y w a s a d m i n i s te re d to 3 4 4 u n s h e l te re d a n d s h e l te re d h o m e l e s s i n d i v i d u a l s
i n o r d e r to p rof i l e t h e i r ex p e r i e n ce a n d c h a r a c te r i s t i c s .
34+28+23+28+35+20
20
2,789
09
11
2,771
2,265
13
3,536
31% Sheltered (n=610)
37%
2%
21%
9%
On the street
Abandoned buildings
Cars/ Vans/ RVs
Encampment Areas
11%
15
1469+30+1
71
Emergency Shelter
Transitional Housing
AGE
GENDER
15%
14%
69%
1%
Men
Women
57+37+28+5
57%
30%
71%
K
72
+
28
RACE/ETHNICITY
(TOP 4 RESPONSES)
Transgender
White
37%
28%
Latino
Multiracial
FIRST TIME HOMELESSNESS
46 Yes (28%)
54 No (72%)
RESIDENCE AT TIME OF
HOMELESSNESS
45%
of those experiencing
homelessness for the
first time had been
homeless for one
year or more
8+37+56
DURATION OF HOMELESSNESS
56%
37%
8%
30 days
or less
1,964
UNSHELTERED INCLUDES:
20%
25+
15
69% Unsheltered (n=1,354)
SHELTERED INCLUDES:
Under 18
18-24
20
07
20
3,371
20
05
20
20
HOMELESS CENSUS ELEVEN-YEAR TREND
1-11
months
1 year
or more
5%
Black or
African
American
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
(currently
experiencing)
FOSTER CARE
(respondents that have
ever been in the system)
i du
div
3 in
24%
als
2
OBSTACLES TO OBTAINING PERMANENT
HOUSING
Santa Cruz County
84%
$
LENGTH OF TIME IN SANTA
CRUZ COUNTY (of those living in
Santa Cruz County at time of homelessness)
5+95 21+79 14+86 60+40
Less than
1 year
(5%)
1-4
years
(21%)
5-9
years
(14%)
10 years
or more
(60%)
JOBS
Couldn’t afford
rent | 61%
No job/
income | 59%
No money for moving
costs | 33%
No housing availability | 27%
A health condition is defined
here as a physical disability,
mental illness, chronic
depression, alcohol or
drug abuse, chronic health
problems, HIV/AIDS, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD), or a developmental
disability.
41++16138352433
10+10+10+10+10+10+10
What is
a health
condition?
INCARCERATION
HEALTH CONDITIONS
53%
Drug or alcohol abuse (41%)
of survey
respondents
reported a
health
condition.
Psychiatric or emotional conditions (38%)
Physical disability (35%)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (24%)
Chronic health problems (33%)
Traumatic brain injury (16%)
32%
spent at least 1 or
more nights in jail
or prison in the
past 12 months.
INCOME
AIDS/HIV related (1%)
$
449
or less
is the amount that 44%
of respondents
reported as their
total monthly income.
Note: Multiple
response question,
numbers will not
total to 100%.
86%
of survey respondents
said YES when asked if
they would want safe,
affordable permanent
housing were it available.
YES!
SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE
SUBPOPULATION DATA
Government services received
CHRONICALLY
HOMELESS
512 Individuals
27%
73%
Sheltered
Unsheltered
40%
60%
30 Families with 70 members
An adult with a disabling condition or a family
with at least one adult member with a disabling
condition who:
»» Has been continuously homeless for 1 year or
more and/or;
»» Has experienced 4 or more episodes of
homelessness within the past 3 years.
VETERANS
155 Individuals
Veterans are persons who have served on active
duty in the Armed Forces of the United States.
This does not include inactive military reserves or
the National Guard unless the person was called
up to active duty.
(Top 3 Responses)
46%
32%
Food Stamps
17%
None of them
SSI/SSDI
Reasons for NOT receiving government services
(Top 3 Responses)
35%
31%
Never
applied
Don’t think
you are eligible
27%
Sheltered
18%
No
permanent
address
FAMILIES
144 Families with 481 members
65%
Sheltered
68%
of respondents reported
receiving government
benefits
32%
reported were NOT
receiving any
government benefits
73%
Unsheltered
UNACCOMPANIED
CHILDREN
30 Individuals
TRANSITION-AGE
YOUTH
242 Individuals
7%
Sheltered
9%
Sheltered
35%
Unsheltered
93%
Unsheltered
91%
Unsheltered
A household with at least one adult member
(persons 18 or older) and at least one child
member (persons under 18).
“Unaccompanied Children” are children under
the age of 18 who are homeless and living
independent of a parent or legal guardian.
Homeless youth are defined as individuals
between the ages of 18 and 24 years old.
summary
T h e s e d a t a p rov i d e a s n a p s h o t of t h o s e ex p e r i e n c i n g h o m e l e s s n e s s i n t h e S a n t a C r uz C o u n t y o n J a n u a r y 22, 20 1 5.
T h e re p o r t p rov i d e s a b a s i c e s t i m a t i o n of t h e n u m b e r a n d c h a r a c te r i s t i c s of t h o s e e x p e r i e n c i n g h o m e l e s s n e s s o n
a n y g i ve n n i g h t i n o r d e r to i n fo r m f u t u re s e r v i ce p l a n n i n g a n d p rov i s i o n i n g e f fo r t s .
S o u rce: A p p l i e d S u r ve y Re s e a rc h . ( 20 1 5 ). S a n t a C r uz C o u n t y H o m e l e s s C e n s u s & S u r ve y. Wa t s o n v i l l e, C A .
F o r m o re d e t a i l o r to v i e w t h e co m p re h e n s i ve re p o r t , p l e a s e v i s i t w w w. a p p l i e d s u r ve y re s e a rc h .o r g .
