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For Immediate Release: January 29, 2004

Nearly 400 homeless children call the Triangle home
Hundreds more at risk of becoming homeless*

Findings of the most recent regional count of people who are homeless reveals 383 children in our community are homeless.   Agencies in Durham, Orange and Wake counties worked with Triangle United Way to release the results of a point-in-time count conducted on December 15 and 16.

• 287 children homeless in Wake County, total homeless count 1235
• 80 children homeless in Durham County, total homeless count 578
• 16 children homeless in Orange County, total homeless count 254
• Total people who are homeless in the Triangle 2067, down slightly from 2,180 in April 2003
• Further count indicates that 15,200 additional members of families including children are at risk of becoming homeless across the region.*

The leading cause for family homelessness is domestic violence and sexual assault. (1999/2000 SAMSHA Homeless Families Research Project)  Most homeless mothers were physically and/or sexually abused when they were girls, witnessed severe domestic violence against their own mothers and/or spent time in foster homes.

“Studies reveal that the current generation of homeless girls are being set up to become the next generation of homeless mothers,” said Craig Chancellor, president of Triangle United Way.  “This is simply unacceptable and a solution must be uncovered to change this pattern.”

Following the announcement, HUD is hosting a round-table discussion with key service providers and local leaders entitled The Impact of Homeless Children on the Triangle.  Local experts will begin their discussion of this topic today at 10 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church located in Downtown Durham.

HUD’s effort follows a mayor’s summit encouraging regional development of 10-year plans to end homeless sponsored by Triangle ARCH (Alliance to Resolve Chronic Homelessness) and Triangle United Way in October 2003.  This meeting furthered 10-year planning efforts in both Durham and Wake counties.  A 10-year plan is under development in the City of Raleigh and the Durham County Commissioners passed a consensus vote two weeks ago to dedicate resources and man-power to the development of a 10-year plan to end homelessness in Durham.

*At risk of becoming homeless indicates that these people are living in rental housing in violation of a lease, without knowledge of the landlord, risking eviction both for themselves and everyone in the household.

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