For Immediate Release: February 14, 2006
Contact: Kerrenda T, Crandol, 463-5013
DURHAM--The 2006 Triangle Point-In-Time Count conducted on January 25 revealed there are currently over 1,711 homeless men, women and children in the Triangle living on the streets and in homeless shelters. The one-night count conducted by outreach workers, police officers, housing providers and volunteers throughout Durham, Orange and Wake counties further revealed:
Domestic violence, underemployment and unemployment, substance abuse and mental illness might lead to homelessness, however, it is these factors coupled with the lack of affordable housing that creates homelessness. Approximately 30-40 percent of homeless North Carolinians have mental illness according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. People with serious mental illness have greater difficulty exiting homelessness than other people. They are homeless more often and for longer periods of time than other homeless subgroups. Homeless individuals suffering from mental illness are often not aware that they are ill and need care. (National Health Care for the Homeless Council).
“The intersection of poor mental health and homelessness is irrefutable. Untreated mental illness and disability coupled with lack of affordable housing contributes to homelessness and presents barriers to ending it,” said Craig Chancellor, President and CEO of Triangle United Way.
The consequences of limited access to comprehensive mental health care are reflected in extremely high rates of both chronic and acute mental health problems among people experiencing homelessness. Being homeless makes it difficult, if not impossible, for someone with mental illness to take medications regularly and to make scheduled appointments with mental health providers. Even those qualifying for disability have trouble accessing affordable housing. The monthly income of someone who is receiving disability income is $564 while the average market rent of a one-bedroom apartment in the Triangle is $700. (Priced Out In 2004, August 2005 from the Consortium of Citizens with Disability Housing Task Force)
“Homelessness among people with serious mental illness can be prevented with discharge planning to help those leaving institutions access housing, mental health, and other necessary community services during the difficult transitions from hospitals, shelters, or jails,” according to Triangle United Way Community Impact Specialist for Homelessness Stan Holt.
Through partnerships in Durham, Orange and Wake counties, 10-Year Plans to prevent and end homelessness are taking shape and communities are being mobilized for change to move from managing homelessness to ending homelessness. The Wake County 10-Year Plan will release a one-year progress report of its plan in April. The 10-Year Plan in Durham will be released in March and the 10-Year Plan in Orange County is beginning to develop their plan and will host a series of forums in the coming months. Please contact Stan Holt at sholt@unitedwaytriangle.org or 463-5023 for information on how you can get involved in your community.
*This is only the preliminary number, as a couple of Wake and Durham County providers have not reported their data at the time of release.
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