2005 Summary Analysis of the South Carolina Homeless Population
Homeless Persons Reporting any Impairment
Fairly high rates of impairment were found among the homeless surveyed. All information is self-reported. Specifically, participants were asked the following questions:
- "Do you have a mental, physical or other impairment that limits you?" (item 19)
- "Have you ever received care because of nervousness, depression, or mental health problems?" (item 20)
- "Have you ever been treated for an alcohol or drug problem?" (item 21), and,
- "Have you ever been told by a professional that you are HIV positive or have AIDS?" (item 22)
Please note that the AIDS question will be analyzed separately from the others.
Mental Health impairment: It is interesting to note that 39.6 percent of the homeless reported they had "received care because of nervousness, depression or mental health problems." This is a higher rate than the approximate one-third that has been estimated nationally by the Center for Mental Health Services of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration within the US Department of Health and Human Services (Mental Health and Homelessness: A Guide for Mental Health Planning and Advisory Councils, undated).
Table 8: Homeless with One or More Impairments
| Homeless Reporting... | Interviewed Homeless Answering 'Yes' to Impairments, Number* | Interviewed Homeless Answering 'Yes' to Impairments, Percent* | Estimated Number in Homeless Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physical or Mental Impairment (IMP) | 644 of 1,948 | 33.1% | 2,145 |
| Mental Illness (MI) | 769 of 1,943 | 39.6% | 2,566 |
| Alcohol and Drug (AD) | 867 of 1,958 | 44.3% | 2,871 |
| IMP and MI | 439 of 1,910 | 23.0% | 1,491 |
| IMP and AD | 329 of 1,920 | 17.1% | 1,108 |
| MI and AD | 445 of 1,928 | 23.1% | 1,497 |
| IMP, MI and AD | 248 of 1,899 | 13.1% | 849 |
* Number of homeless (6,481) was multiplied by the percent to get the estimated number in the South Carolina homeless population.