September 27, 2005
For Immediate Release

Contact:

Diana Tester, Chair, Data Committee
S.C. Council on Homelessness
803-898-9962

Anita Floyd, Member
S.C. Council on Homelessness
803-733-5407

Michele Murff
S.C. Department of Mental Health
803-898-7767

Summary Analysis on the South Carolina Homeless Population Presented

Columbia, SC: The results from the first statewide assessment of people who are homeless, conducted January 27, 2005, were presented Friday, September 23 at the South Carolina Homeless Coalition Conference held at Furman University in Greenville. This Summary Analysis on the South Carolina Homeless Population: Based on the Homeless Count of January 2005 can be viewed at www.schomeless.org by clicking on the "Homeless Count" tab.

According to the Executive Summary, 6,481 people were counted as homeless on the particular day of the count. Of that number:

• 46% were in homeless shelters; 56% were staying in unsheltered locations;
• 68% were men; 32 % were women;
• 20% were veterans;
• 15% were children.

Further, the report noted that "A better representation of the homeless count may be an estimated 10,355 rather than the actual count of 6,481. This number represents what is considered to be a 'truer' number of those who would be counted as homeless on the count day if more...interviewers [had] been available on the day of the count."

In addition, the report showed that the annualized homeless estimate for South Carolina in 2005 is 32,335 people. This estimate uses the actual count from the one-day event, and given the length of homelessness and stay of those interviewed, approximates the number of different people that are homeless during the year. The estimate is based on how quickly persons cycle in and out of homeless shelters and unsheltered locations.

A volunteer effort, the count provided the most informative picture of homelessness locally and in South Carolina to date. The coalitions found and interviewed people who are in shelters or transitional housing programs and also people who are trying to survive on the street, in abandoned buildings, or in other places not fit for human habitation. In previous years, coalitions conducted local counts, but because the counts were on different days or years and each coalition developed its own methodology, it was difficult to use the data for planning.

Please see the attached list of contacts for each coalition. The coalitions are regional organizations comprised of social service providers and other community representatives. They serve as local planning groups on homelessness. The University of South Carolina's Institute for Families in Society supported the effort and developed a method to do the interviews and to inventory homeless facilities. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development provided support for training, and the SC Department of Mental Health provided support for statewide data analysis.

"I am very pleased that South Carolina has more comprehensive data on homelessness to support the State Council's work," said John J. Connery, interim director of the South Carolina Department of Mental Health and current chair of the South Carolina Council on Homelessness.

"The value in this assessment is not only in obtaining the number of homeless counted, but also in gaining a better understanding of the types of persons experiencing homelessness in our state. This data will be invaluable as we strive to improve our state and local strategies to address homelessness."

The South Carolina Council on Homelessness is comprised of representatives from nineteen state and federal agencies and private organizations.

Regional Lead Contact Persons