January 2020 Data Update: One Number, By-Name List & Coordinated Entry

Mecklenburg County Community Support Services (CSS) partners with homeless services agencies in Charlotte-Mecklenburg to enter, collect, analyze, and report data on housing and homelessness in the community. As part of this work, CSS first released the Housing Data Snapshot in June 2019. Since then, the Housing Data Snapshot has been updated, expanded, and released each month.  The Housing Data Snapshot now provides a regular update for the One Number; “By-Name” List; and Coordinated Entry.

This blog post highlights the latest changes and provides further analysis of the data added to the Housing Data Snapshot and what these changes mean for Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

ONE NUMBER

As of December 31, 2019, there were 3,569 individuals actively experiencing homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg. This number includes 295 families (1,103 individuals within 295 households) and 2,537 single individuals. Of the 2,537 single individuals, 178 are unaccompanied youth (ages 18 – 24). The One Number, which is generated from the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), was initially published in the September 2019 release of the State of Housing Instability & Homelessness in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Report.

Between June and December 2019, the One Number has increased by 1,463 individuals. During the past thirty days, 77 families (214 individuals within 77 households); 486 single individuals; and 39 unaccompanied youth (ages 18 – 24) were added to the One Number by-name list. One Number data may fluctuate for various reasons.  These changes reflect both environmental and systemic conditions related to the access to and sustainability of affordable housing.  Variations may also be due to data quality processes. An individual is removed from the One Number by-name list (which means they are no longer considered “actively homeless”) after 90 days of inactivity in HMIS. It is also important to remember that administrative data is not static; therefore, historic data is provided to help view and track trends in One Number data over time.  To access historical One Number data and trends, click this link.

CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS

In December 2019, there were 510 chronically homeless individuals who are still homeless in Mecklenburg County. This is the highest number of chronically homeless individuals recorded since April 2019. Between November and December 2019, chronic homelessness increased by 19% (or 83 individuals). During the past quarter, the average inflow is 84 individuals, whereas the average outflow is 25. Unless the outflow increases significantly (which requires new housing options) and/or inflow decreases (as a result of increased housing stability), the number of chronically homeless individuals will continue to increase.

VETERAN HOMELESSNESS

In December 2019, there were 213 veterans who are still homeless in Mecklenburg County. While this number increased by 1 individual from the prior month, the total number of homeless veterans is significantly less than the total number of homeless veterans first recorded in April 2019, meeting the 30% reduction goal set by the Housing our Heroes workgroup (stay tuned for a future blog post about the work to reduce veteran homelessness and the Built for Zero initiative). During the past quarter, the average inflow is 44 individuals, whereas the average outflow is 21. Unless the inflow decreases and/or outflow increases, veteran homelessness will also continue to increase.

COORDINATED ENTRY

The Housing Data Snapshot has been updated with data for the second quarter. The data includes the number of 2-1-1 calls for housing assistance (1,860); the number of households referred for an in-person Coordinated Assessment (1,868); and the number of households who received an in-person Coordinated Assessment (1,186). In addition, a table is provided via this link to historical Coordinated Entry data.

The average number of monthly 2-1-1 calls between October and December 2019 is 620; and the average number of monthly in-person Coordinated Assessments is 395. Both the number of 2-1-1 calls and the number of in-person assessments increased during this quarter. It is important to note that while these numbers help illustrate the need for housing in the community, they do not encompass each of the households who face housing instability and homelessness.  These numbers also do not include households facing homelessness who do not seek assistance through the homeless services system.

SO, WHAT

In order to effectively address housing instability and homelessness, we must understand the problem more completely. Data provides us with one tool to do this. The data helps us understand the need of and demand for housing assistance.

When used effectively, these data points can inform decision-making around housing and homelessness. Working groups dedicated to reducing inflow and increasing outflow among chronic and veteran homelessness, for example, meet regularly to brainstorm and test methods that can create positive change. It is critical that these groups continue to examine the inflow and outflow patterns in relationship to changes in programs and policies.

More housing is needed. As of the end of December, the total number of actively homeless veterans and chronically homeless individuals was 723; and the total number of all actively homeless individuals was 3,569. In addition, the average inflow numbers into homelessness for both groups further illustrate the continued housing demand.  The numbers are therefore an important tool to estimate annual housing needs for planners and funders.

As always, the problems and solutions are linked and must be addressed systemically in order to have the greatest impact on the greatest number of households, in the most efficient and human ways possible.