2005 Summary Analysis of the South Carolina Homeless Population

Introduction

Background: On January 27th, 2005, volunteers across South Carolina implemented the first coordinated, statewide count of persons experiencing homelessness. The count was coordinated by an ad hoc committee of representatives from across the state including service providers from different regional coalitions, state agencies and HMIS coordinators. The effort was multi-purposed:

• Produce a statewide, unduplicated count of sheltered homeless persons.
   
• Count or produce reliable estimates of unsheltered persons experiencing homelessness in the state.
   
• Develop a profile of the homeless population in South Carolina that provides a better understanding of homelessness than the HUD required point in time count.

The Institute for Families in Societies (IFS) at the University of South Carolina assisted the committee by developing five instruments for the assessment and providing training on the count methodology. A web site was developed by David King, a consultant and HMIS System Administrator for three of the five coalitions in South Carolina. The web site provided a data entry opportunity for all coalitions as well as continuing reporting of the 2005 count numbers.

The five forms included:

• Form 1: A two-page Individual Survey to collect basic demographic and homeless experience information for unsheltered or sheltered homeless adults.
   
• Form 2: A one-page Child Survey for unsheltered or sheltered homeless children and youth for parents to respond when the parent was interviewed.
   
• Form 3: A one-page Observation of Unsheltered form to report individuals observed at unsheltered sites when interviews were not feasible.
   
• Form 4: A Provider Survey to solicit information from shelter providers on the number of homeless at the shelter on the day of the count, as well as additional information.
   
• Form-5: An In-depth individual survey to solicit extensive information about the housing and service experience of people who are homeless. Generally, these surveys were completed at shelters given the estimated one-hour duration of the interview.

Data Quality: Much effort was put into the design and implementation of this Count. Unfortunately, the effort, enthusiasm, training and person-power did not permeate every county. Thirty-seven percent (17 of 46) counties reported zero unsheltered homeless, and an additional eleven percent (5 of 46) counties reported less than five unsheltered homeless. The majority of the counties reporting zero, or less than five unsheltered homeless, reported little or no effort to count the homeless.

Additionally, as a first-time coordinated effort, some of the pieces came together late in the process. It should be celebrated that they did come together well. But there were also some "lessons learned." The most important of the technical lessons were as follows:

• Make sure that none of the item response codes overlap.
   
• Make sure that the children's forms can be connected to the parents'.
   
• Make sure that regardless of where people are interviewed - on the street or at a homeless facility or soup kitchen - that it is clear whether or not the person already has a designated bed (unsheltered or sheltered and which shelter).
   
• Make sure all of the items in the survey are clear and elicit the information needed (e.g., Item 3: How long have you been in this circumstance? "This circumstance" is a vague reference and may mean staying at a particular shelter or it may mean being homeless - two different things).
   

The lessons learned are important technical concerns, but in the scheme of things and given the collaborative nature of this endeavor, the 2005 Count was carried out remarkably well. Many thanks go to those noted in the acknowledgements, as well as the hundreds of professional staff and volunteers that worked out of a commitment to those they serve. Finally, while homelessness is difficult to measure with 100 percent accuracy, it should be noted that it is more important to work towards ending homelessness than knowing the precise numbers of persons currently experiencing it.

Other reports based on the January 2005 Count Data include a 3-page synopsis of the information on the basic survey form for each of the statewide and 5 regional levels:

1. S.C. Homelessness 2005 - By the Numbers (Statewide results, see Appendix 1)
    
2. Low Country Coalition On Homelessness: S.C. Homelessness 2005
    
3. Midlands Area Coalition on Homelessness: S.C. Homelessness 2005
    
4. Pee Dee Coalition on Homelessness: S.C. Homelessness 2005
    
5. Total Care Coalition: S.C. Homelessness 2005
    
6. Upstate Homeless Coalition: S.C. Homelessness 2005
    

The following report was based on analysis from the basic interview form (form 1) with some limited information from the other forms.