Full Text
2019 Comprehensive Homeless Count Jefferson County, Colorado Final Report ---PAGE BREAK--- 2019 Comprehensive Homeless Count Jefferson County, Colorado Final Report Prepared By: OMNI Institute Natalie Wheeler I Senior Researcher Mayra Smith-Coronado I Researcher 899 Logan Street, Suite 600 Denver, CO 80203 (303) 839 - 9422 www.omni.org Prepared For: Comprehensive Homeless Count Steering Committee Carrie Espinosa, City of Arvada Amy DeKnikker, City of Lakewood Sgt. Jonathan Alesch, City of Lakewood Morgan Gardner, City of Lakewood Kelli Barker, Jefferson County Kat Douglas, Jefferson County Kate Skarbek, City of Westminster Submitted March 2020 For more information about this report please contact Kelli Barker, [EMAIL REDACTED]. ---PAGE BREAK--- Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Letter from the Steering Committee 3 Introduction 5 Cost of Living in Jefferson County 6 Cost of Homelessness 8 Methodology 9 Data Entry and Cleaning 9 Limitations and Considerations 11 Findings 12 Demographics 15 Characteristics 18 Subpopulations 18 Services Needed and Received 19 Barriers to Services 20 Duplicate Data 21 Additional Sources of Data 22 Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) 22 2019 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count 23 McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program 24 2019 #RealCollege Survey 24 Stories from Survey Volunteers 25 Conclusions 27 Appendix A: Survey Instrument 28 Appendix B: Jefferson County Data 30 Appendix C: City Data 33 Appendix D: Slept Outside Jefferson County Data 47 Appendix E: Glossary 49 ---PAGE BREAK--- Executive Summary ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 3 Letter from the Steering Committee We are pleased to present the results of the 2019 Jefferson County, Colorado Comprehensive Homeless Count in this report. Staff members from the cities of Arvada, Lakewood, and Westminster as well as from Jefferson County created the survey in order to learn more about the scope of homelessness and needs of those experiencing homelessness in the county. Recognizing the need for community input, the team asked healthcare providers, educational institutions and non-profit partners throughout the region along with interested citizens and faith-based organizations to weigh in on the questions. OMNI Institute provided expert guidance throughout the process. This report was based on two counts: a month-long service provider count and a week-long street count. The participation of 29 agencies that conducted the month-long count and the agencies across the Denver metro area that provided staff during their worktime to conduct the week-long count made this possible. Almost 200 citizens carved time out of their daily lives to canvas as much of the 774-square-mile county as possible during a week in August to visit and interview people where they live – in parks, open space, cars, hotels and more. Law enforcement officers from every jurisdiction in Jefferson County escorted the volunteers to ensure their safety. The cities of Edgewater, Golden, Westminster and Wheat Ridge and Jefferson County provided meals and places for volunteers to meet at the beginning and ends of their shifts. Mountair Christian Church and the Arvada Vineyard Neighborhood Church opened their doors to host the volunteers while meals were provided by Alameda Connects, Chuy’s and First Bank during shifts in Lakewood and Arvada. Rx Abuse Leadership Initiative of Colorado (RALI) provided funding to help ensure the volunteers had vests and trained team leads. Various citizens also donated items to giveaway to those experiencing homelessness. Many thanks to everyone who contributed – especially those who answered the survey questions. The report’s findings will be used to guide policy-making, service decisions and identify funding opportunities in order to better serve those who are homeless as well as improve the quality of life for all residents. The report contains the most recent data available about: • The cost of living in Jefferson County • The cost of homelessness • The methodology and survey results from the county-wide comprehensive count • Additional sources of data about homelessness in Jefferson County • The survey results for each jurisdiction in Jefferson County • Data Quality Report of the comprehensive count ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 4 While we fully expect that the survey results will lead to more questions, they must also lead to action. It is our intent that the information in this report is used to create policies, programs and partnerships designed to ensure that homelessness of any sort is rare and short-lived when it does occur. Thank you for your interest in this subject. We hope you join us in moving this work forward. Carrie Espinosa, City of Arvada Kelli Barker, Jefferson County Amy DeKnikker, City of Lakewood Kat Douglas, Jefferson County Sgt. Jonathan Alesch, City of Lakewood Kate Skarbek, City of Westminster Morgan Gardner, City of Lakewood ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 5 Introduction In 2019, several local governments in Jefferson County partnered to conduct a month-long, comprehensive count of individuals experiencing homelessness. This collaborative group identified the need for quality data to inform the policies and services that are needed to prevent and address homelessness throughout the county. Historically, a primary source of data about homelessness in Jefferson County comes from the annual point-in-time (PIT) count. The PIT is undertaken each year in January to meet US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requirements. While the PIT provides valuable data, the count is limited to individuals who are literally homeless (living in shelters, on the streets, or other places not meant for human habitation) and does not include individuals in other unstable housing conditions such as couch surfing, living in motels, or temporarily residing in institutions such as hospitals. The Jefferson County comprehensive homeless count attempted to reach individuals who were literally homeless and those who lack stable housing. This expanded definition was informed by the 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act with the aim to capture the unique characteristics of individuals experiencing or at risk for experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County. The main goals of the comprehensive homeless count were: 1. Conduct an unduplicated count of individuals and families in Jefferson County who are homeless 2. Collect data about demographic characteristics and other factors related to homelessness 3. Capture information about services and barriers related to homelessness in Jefferson County 4. Use data to design services and policies to prevent and address homelessness This report is intended to summarize the results of the comprehensive count to assist service providers, policy makers, and government entities in understanding the population of people experiencing homelessness. In addition to this report, a Data Quality Report containing an overview of excluded data as well as recommendations for future counts is also available. Definition of Homelessness In this report, homelessness is defined as individuals and families living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, those who are unsheltered, and those who lack stable housing. At least one of the following criteria must be met to classify housing as unstable: the inability to sleep or stay in the same place for the next 14 days, the inability to pay for housing for the next 14 days, or inconsistent housing for the last 60 days. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 6 Cost of Living in Jefferson County In Jefferson County, housing costs have risen more quickly than household income making it more difficult for individuals and families to afford housing. According to the 2018 American Community Survey, since 2013 the cost of housing has grown 38% while household income has only grown 26%. The gap between median annual household income and median home values is larger in Jefferson County compared to the national average. In Jefferson County, the 2018 American Community Survey shows that the median home value is 5.13 times greater than the median annual household income. Comparatively, across the United States the median home value is 3.71 times greater than the median annual household income. For income levels in Jefferson County to be compatible with housing costs, relative to the national average, the median annual household income in Jefferson County would need to increase 31%, from $85,890 to $112,421. Because median home values are high in Jefferson County, median housing payments also exceed national averages. $2,492 $1,356 $1,388 $1,058 Mortgage in Jefferson County Mortgage in United States Rent in Jefferson County Rent in United States Comparing median wage to median mortgage payments, a household in the US pays 38% of their net income for housing, while a household in Jefferson County pays 50%. $85,890 $61,937 $440,200 $229,700 Jefferson County United States Median Annual Household Income Median Home Value ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 7 Housing costs are also high for renters. The median cost of rent is higher in Jefferson County compared to the national average ($1,388 vs. $1058). A household in Jefferson County earning the typical entry-level income will spend 60% of their gross income on rent alone. According to HUD, households that pay more than 30% of their gross income toward housing costs are considered cost-burdened. Cost-burdened households have less money available to spend on health care, childcare, transportation, and other essential expenses. While typical entry-level wages in Jefferson County are $27,830 per year, many occupations have lower entry level wages. The following graph displays annual entry-level income for the fifteen fastest growing jobs in Jefferson County. $27,830 $25,022 $16,656 $12,696 Jefferson County United States Annual Entry-Level Income Median Annual Rental Costs $21,216 $21,216 $21,216 $21,216 $21,216 $22,568 $22,589 $22,734 $23,421 $25,563 $33,155 $42,702 $45,822 $53,602 $57,741 Waiters and Waitresses Construction Laborers Retail Salespersons Cooks Food Preparation and Serving Workers Stock Clerks and Order Fillers Freight, Stock, and Material Movers Customer Service Representatives Office Clerks Security Guards Electricians Business Operations Specialists General and Operations Managers Registered Nurses Applications Software Developers ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 8 An average Jefferson County household spends 69% of their net income on housing (50%) and transportation (19%) alone. According to the Consumer Expenditure Survey, an average Jefferson County household spends $485 of their net wages on health care, $759 on food, $835 on home supplies, and $306 on clothing and personal care items. These expenses exceed the median income which means that an average household will accumulate $13,637 in debt per year to make ends meet. Childcare is an additional and significant expense for families living in Jefferson County. According to the Colorado Center on Law & Policy an average family with two children (one school aged and one pre-school aged) will spend an additional $1,828 a month for childcare. A single female parent caring for two children making an average annual wage and paying average annual costs of living will accumulate $36,021 in debt annually. Even a two-parent family caring for two children will need to take home $7,640 per month or gross $130,972 per year to cover home ownership and childcare costs. The high costs of living present challenges for many individuals and families in Jefferson County. These costs directly impact housing stability and present barriers for people trying to move out of homelessness. Cost of Homelessness There are many institutions that interact with people who are experiencing homelessness - from hospitals and emergency rooms, to substance use treatment centers, the criminal justice system, and social service agencies. It can be challenging to quantify the costs associated with these interactions and data specific to costs in Jefferson County is not currently available. A 2017 study1 in Orange County, California found that the average annual cost of homelessness per person was approximately $45,000. This includes all costs associated with addressing homelessness both by governmental and non-governmental entities. The costs of homelessness were driven by the top 10% of service users. Excluding the top 10% of service users lowers the average annual cost per person to approximately $10,000 per year. This study also found that the costs of homelessness decline when people are housed, especially among chronically homeless individuals who are housed in Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) which provides both housing and supportive services on a long-term basis. While homelessness poses significant economic costs on communities, this study suggests that increasing access to housing can help to lower these costs. Similar conclusions can be drawn from a 2016 assessment2 of chronically homeless individuals in Boulder County, Colorado. This assessment was undertaken to understand the need for PSH in Boulder. Homeless providers throughout the county estimated the cost of serving people experiencing homelessness to be $43,000 per year. The cost of providing a PSH unit in Boulder is $11,700 which provides $31,600 in savings per year. 1 2 ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 9 Methodology The purpose of the comprehensive homeless count was to produce an estimate of the number of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Jefferson County. Because of the inherent challenges with surveying people who are experiencing homelessness, and given the desire to be comprehensive, multiple methods were used. There were two primary methods of data collection: 1. Service-based - throughout the month of August, twenty-nine agencies serving people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness administered surveys to clients when they were seen for services 2. Street outreach - during the week of August 19-23, teams of community volunteers accompanied by law enforcement surveyed people in different areas throughout the county Led by the Steering Committee, many county and community partners collaborated on outreach, volunteer recruitment, logistics, coordination, and methodological decisions. In addition, during the planning process The OMNI Institute (OMNI) provided guidance and technical assistance. Agency staff and community volunteers were asked to attend an hour-long training prior to the start of data collection. Multiple trainings were held across the county and included an overview of the survey instrument and information on best practices for administering the survey. The survey instrument was developed in consultation with OMNI and was revised based on input from service providers in Jefferson County. The survey included questions about demographics, characteristics, and service utilization and was available in both English and Spanish. A mobile version of the survey instrument was developed using a web-based application, Qualtrics, that could be accessed on any cell phone or tablet. See Appendix A for the full survey instrument. Data Entry and Cleaning OMNI staff completed data entry for all paper survey data. The research team completed significant data checking procedures to identify data entry and logic errors. For example, researchers looked for patterns in missing data and out of range or incorrect values. Duplicates Because data collection spanned a full month, duplicate surveys were expected. To ensure that the final estimates represented unduplicated counts, the survey instrument included a question about previously completing the survey and asked for identifying information (first three letters of first name, first three letters of last name, and date of birth) for deduplication purposes. A PIN number was created for each individual using the provided identifying information. Duplicate cases were identified using the PIN number in combination with other variables in the datafile. Several iterations of duplicate identification were then performed based on varying combinations of name and date of birth to further identify duplicate cases that did not end up with ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 10 the exact same PIN number due to spelling errors or mis-typed information. Duplicates were also flagged based on respondents indicating that they had already completed the survey. The duplicate record with the most complete information was kept in the final dataset. If duplicate records contained a similar amount of information, the record completed later in the month, when housing may be less stable, was kept in the final dataset. Summary of Excluded Data After receiving all the surveys, OMNI conducted a thorough cleaning process to prepare the data for analysis. Records were removed for six reasons: 1. The individual did not meet the definition of homelessness 2. The individual stayed or slept outside of Jefferson County 3. The record was identified as a duplicate 4. The record had insufficient identifying information for deduplication 5. Homeless status could not be determined 6. The record had insufficient household information The following table summarizes the number of records in the raw data file, the number removed, and the number remaining the final dataset. Number Total in raw data file 2,125 Number removed and reason Individual is not homeless 416 Individual stayed or slept outside Jefferson County 310 Duplicate 136 Insufficient identifying information 131 Homeless status could not be determined 121 Insufficient household information 14 Total removed 1,128 Total remaining in dataset 997 For additional information about excluded data, please see the Data Quality Report which includes breakdowns by data collection method, city, and agency and offers recommendations for future surveys. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 11 Limitations and Considerations Due to the transient nature of the population and the diverse geographic area of Jefferson County, it is extremely difficult to capture everyone who is experiencing homelessness in a single survey. The results included in this report represent a "snapshot" of the homeless population during the month of August 2019 and may not represent fluctuations in this population seasonally or over time. In addition, there are many reasons that individuals experiencing homelessness may not wish to complete a survey and may refuse or actively avoid participation. Because of these inherent challenges, the survey results should be considered an underrepresentation of homelessness in Jefferson County. The survey was dependent upon self-reporting, which may impact the data. Individuals may be unwilling to disclose certain information or may not realize that they meet the criteria for a specific condition. Individuals with disabling conditions, such as those included on the survey, may experience stigma associated with these conditions, which may lead to underreporting. Also, individuals may not consider themselves to be homeless and this may be reflected in their survey responses. The methodology also relied on participation from service providers and volunteers across Jefferson County. While participation was high, some agencies were not able to administer the survey. Furthermore, individuals whose housing is unstable but who are not currently seeking out services may be less likely to have been captured on this survey. While the survey is most likely to be an underrepresentation of the homeless population in Jefferson County, the methodology still represents the most comprehensive approach available. The results of this survey should be examined alongside other available data sources when trying to understand the population of people experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 12 Findings Across Jefferson County, there were 997 people experiencing homelessness in August 2019. Within this group, 668 met the HUD definition of literal homelessness meaning that they were living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, or in a place not meant for human habitation. The 997 people experiencing homelessness will be the primary focus of the findings discussed in this section. It is important to note that there were 289 additional survey respondents who met all the inclusion criteria except that they reported sleeping or staying outside of Jefferson County. Because the focus of this report is on Jefferson County, these individuals are not included in the analysis. However, homelessness does not occur in isolation within specific geographic boundaries. People experiencing homelessness spend time and receive services in multiple counties. Because of this, it is important to consider this group when trying to understand the population experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County. See Appendix D for additional information about individuals who slept outside of Jefferson County. HUD groups individuals into one of three "household types" - households without children; households with at least one adult and one child; and households with only children. There were 707 households experiencing homelessness. The majority of households (86%) did not include children. were households without children were households with at least one adult and one child were households with only children 86% 14% Household Type Number Percent Households without children 605 86% Households with at least one adult and one child 99 14% Households with only children 3 ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 13 Participants reported where they slept or stayed for most of the last three nights. These responses were grouped into sheltered and unsheltered sleeping locations. Sheltered locations included hotels/motels, housing with friends, emergency shelters, apartments/houses, transitional housing, and institutional settings. Unsheltered sleeping locations included sleeping on the street, in a vehicle, or in any other place not meant for human habitation. The unsheltered category included responses in the "Other" category3. 52% of respondents were unsheltered and 48% were sheltered. 3 Other housing situations included sleeping at work, churches, or in storage. 4 Sleeping location meets the HUD definition of literal homelessness that is used during the annual PIT count Unsheltered Sleeping Location Number Percent Total unsheltered4 516 52% On the street/sidewalk/encampment/under a bridge/park 303 30% In a car or other vehicle 200 20% Other3 13 1% Sheltered Sleeping Location Number Percent Total sheltered 481 48% Hotel/motel that you pay for 143 14% With a friend/family member in housing that they rent/own 121 12% Emergency, youth, or domestic violence shelter4 80 8% Hotel/motel paid for by a voucher4 53 5% An apartment/house that you rent/own with no housing subsidy 42 4% Transitional housing4 19 2% An apartment/house that you rent/own with housing subsidy 13 1% Institutional setting 10 1% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 14 Participants reported the city where they slept or stayed for most of the last three nights. The following table summarizes information about survey participants and includes information about the population of each city. The city population data comes from the 2018 census data5, the most recent year available. The city of Lakewood had the highest percentage of people experiencing homelessness, with 49% of individuals reporting that they stayed there in August. Arvada had the second highest percentage of people experiencing homelessness Lakewood and Arvada are the two most populous cities in the county comprising 27% and 21% of the Jefferson County population respectively. Homeless Population City Population Percent of City Experiencing Homelessness City Number Percent (of participants) Number Percent (of county) Lakewood 486 49% 156,798 27% 0.3% Arvada6 189 19% 120,492 21% 0.2% Wheat Ridge 93 9% 31,400 5% 0.3% Unincorporated Jefferson County 82 8% 131,4687 23% 0.1% Golden 42 4% 21,254 4% 0.2% Westminster6 39 4% 113,479 20% <0.1% Edgewater 14 1% 5,342 1% 0.3% City not reported 31 3% not available not available Other8 21 2% not available not available See Appendix C for summary tables containing information about each city in Jefferson County. 5 6 Arvada and Westminster are in both Jefferson and Adams County. Zero people reported sleeping in the Adams County area of Arvada. Thirty-nine people reported sleeping in the Adams County area of Westminster. These additional records are not reported in this table, but are included in the Westminster summary table found in Appendix C. 7 The population for Unincorporated Jefferson County was calculated based on the total Jefferson County population minus the sum of the other city populations (580,233 - 448,765 = 131,468). 8 Other cities people reported staying or sleeping in were Morrison and Pine. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 15 Demographics This section provides information on the demographics of the surveyed population of individuals experiencing homelessness and also includes comparison data from the general population of Jefferson County. The data for the general population comes from the 2018 census data9, the most recent year available. For this comparison, only the demographic categories that matched between the survey data and census data are included. Age Respondents reported the date of birth for each household member, which were used to calculate the exact age of each person. Ages ranged from 0 to 98 with an average age of 37 years old. Age was then further categorized into four groups: Children (under age 18), Young adults (ages 18 to 24), Adults (ages 25 to 64) and Seniors (ages 65 years or older). The majority were Adults (67%) followed by Children The following graph compares the distribution of ages in the general Jefferson County population and in the survey population. Compared to the general population, people who were experiencing homelessness were more likely to be adults and less likely to be children or seniors. 9 4% 67% 8% 16% 17% 56% 8% 20% Seniors (ages 65+) Adults (ages 25-64) Young adults (ages 18-24) Children (under 18) Jefferson County Homeless Population Age Number Percent Children (under age 18) 158 16% Young adults (ages 18-24) 78 8% Adults (ages 25-64) 665 67% Seniors (ages 65+) 44 4% Not reported 52 5% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 16 Gender The percentage of people who identified as male (55%) was greater than the percentage of people who identified as female Additionally, compared to the general population of Jefferson County, the percentage of people identifying as male was higher among the homeless population. This means that survey respondents who identify as male are disproportionally impacted by homelessness compared to those who identify as female. 10 Does not identify as exclusively male or female 42% 55% 50% 50% Female Male Jefferson County Homeless Population Gender Number Percent Male 544 55% Female 423 42% Transgender 4 Gender non-conforming10 1 Don't identify 1 Not reported 24 2% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 17 Race and Ethnicity Sixty-three percent of people experiencing homelessness reported their race as White and more than half reported their ethnicity as Non-Hispanic/non-Latinx Compared to the general population of Jefferson County, the homeless population was more likely to be a member of a racial or ethnic minority group. People who identify as Hispanic or Latinx make up 15.5% of the general population in Jefferson County, but represent 28% of the homeless population. Similarly, people who identify as Multi-Racial, Black, and American Indian or Alaskan Native are disproportionately impacted by homelessness. 0.3% 1% 5% 8% 11% 28% 63% 3% 0% 1% 1% 3% 16% 92% Asian Native Hawaiian/ PacificIslander American Indian/ Alaskan Native Black Multi-Racial Hispanic/Latinx White Jefferson County Homeless Population Race Number Percent White 630 63% Multi-Racial 114 11% Black 81 8% American Indian or Alaskan Native 45 5% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 8 1% Asian 3 Not reported 116 12% Ethnicity Number Percent Non-Hispanic/Non-Latinx 569 57% Hispanic or Latinx 279 28% Not reported 149 15% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 18 Characteristics For each household member over the age of 18, respondents were asked to report the presence of a serious mental illness, disability, substance use disorder, HIV/AIDS, or chronic health problems. Approximately two thirds of adults experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County reported at least one disabling condition The most common disabling condition was a disability Subpopulations Based on survey responses, several small but important subpopulations were identified. Approximately one in five individuals were chronically homeless and approximately one in seven were currently fleeing domestic violence. were chronically homeless were currently fleeing domestic violence were veterans were unaccompanied youth were parenting youth 11 Only includes adults over age 18 (n = 787) 21% 15% 7% 4% 1% Disabling Conditions11 Number Percent One or more disabling condition(s) 490 62% Disability 257 33% Serious mental illness 222 28% Chronic health problem 221 28% Substance use disorder 207 26% HIV/AIDS 5 1% Sub-Populations Number Percent Chronically homeless 214 21% Currently fleeing domestic violence11 118 15% Veteran11 55 7% Unaccompanied youth 41 4% Parenting youth 12 1% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 19 Services Needed and Received Respondents were asked to report on the types of services their household needs and receives in Jefferson County. Because these questions were asked about the household, the percentages included below are calculated out of the total number of households (707 households). The top three needs were housing assistance food and transportation assistance The top three services that households received were food medical or dental services and mental health services Nineteen percent of households reported that they did not receive any services. Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 467 66% 37 5% Food 425 60% 425 60% Transportation assistance 241 34% 61 9% Medical or dental services 219 31% 289 41% Shelter 196 28% 61 9% Help to find a job 158 22% 38 5% Mental health services 132 19% 76 11% Help getting personal identification 103 15% 47 7% Childcare or school services12 31 4% 22 3% Detox 23 3% 11 2% None 44 6% 132 19% Other13 110 16% 81 11% For many of the services there are more households who report needing the service compared to the number of households who report receiving the service. 12 Only 102 households (14%) included children, which is likely related to the low number of households needing and receiving childcare or school services 13 Other services include after-school programming, senior programs, cash assistance, clothing, laundry services, lockers, and showers 66% 5% 34% 9% 28% 9% 22% 5% 19% 11% 15% 7% 16% 11% Housing assistance Transportation Shelter Help to find a job Mental health Help getting ID Other ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 20 Mile High United Way operates a free, confidential, and multi-lingual help line (2-1-1) that connects individuals with resources related to health and human services. In August 2019, 288 callers identified themselves as being from Jefferson County. Their top five needs were rent payment assistance housing utility assistance shelter or transitional housing and transportation These mirror the services that have the largest gap between service needs and services received including housing assistance, transportation assistance, and shelter. Another data source that provides information about shelter related services is the Housing Inventory Count (HIC). This count takes place on the same night as the annual Point-in-Time count and is an inventory of the number of beds and units available on one night in January. The HIC provides valuable information on the supply of shelter beds available. During the 2019 HIC count, Jefferson County had 324 beds available and 255 beds filled which represents at 79% utilization rate. 35 of these beds are part of the Severe Weather Shelter Network and are not available year- round. Barriers to Services Survey respondents were also asked about barriers to accessing services. Because this question was asked about the household, the percentages included below are calculated out of the total number of households (707 households). The three most frequently reported barriers were transportation cost of services and lack of available services 14 Other barriers include not qualifying for services, needing more information about services, too long of a waitlist, and not having enough time for services Barriers Number Percent Transportation 258 36% Cost of services 233 33% Lack of available services 218 31% Lack of mailing address 123 17% Credit history 123 17% Mental health 97 14% Shelter policies 69 10% Criminal background 68 10% Lack of personal identification 68 10% Substance use 49 7% Being on parole or protective orders 46 7% Pet or service animal 45 6% Lack of interest in services 23 3% Lack of culturally competent services 15 2% Language barrier 12 2% None 69 10% Other14 137 19% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 21 Duplicate Data During the deduplication process, there were 240 records that were identified as duplicates. These 240 records represent 87 households who completed the survey more than once. Characteristics of these households were analyzed to understand the frequency of service provision and how sleeping location and city changed over time. Of the 87 total households, 55 households (63%) completed surveys with two different agencies and 6 households completed surveys with three different agencies. The majority of households (67 households, 77%) reported the same sleeping location on all surveys, however 20 households (23%) reported sleeping in different locations. Similarly, most duplicate households slept in the same city (65 households, 75%), with only 22 households (25%) moving between cities. It may seem counterintuitive that a greater number of households reported sleeping in different cities than different sleeping locations. This is because some households slept in the same type of sleeping location in a vehicle, in a hotel or motel) in two different cities during the month of August. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 22 Additional Sources of Data Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a software application designed to record and store client-level information on the characteristics and service needs of individuals experiencing homelessness. Homeless assistance providers use HMIS to coordinate care, manage their operations, and better serve their clients. While there is no formal definition of homelessness associated with HMIS, it is used by organizations that provide direct services to people experiencing homelessness. Within Jefferson County, there are two agencies that use HMIS - Family Tree and Jefferson Center15. Metro Denver Homeless Initiative (MDHI) manages the HMIS system and provided an extract for all clients enrolled during the month of August. 447 people 231 adults 216 children Family Tree and Jefferson Center also participated in the service-based data collection and completed surveys during the month of August. Because of this, it is likely that there are some individuals who are represented in both the HMIS data and survey data. Identifying information was not available in the HMIS data which prevented deduplication. Furthermore, HMIS is not used by all agencies in Jefferson County so in isolation it doesn't provide a complete picture of who receives services. However, taken with the other sources of data available within this report the HMIS data provides valuable information about homelessness in Jefferson County. The following summarizes information about individuals who were enrolled in a program at Family Tree or Jefferson Center during the month of August 2019: • Age - 48% Children (under 18), 8% Young adult (ages 18-24), 42% Adult (ages 25-64), and 2% Seniors (ages 65+) • Gender - 60% Female, 39% Male, Trans female • Ethnicity - 39% Hispanic/Latinx, 61% Non-Hispanic/Non-Latinx • Race - 66% White, 22% Black or African American, 8% Multi-Racial, 3% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1% Asian • Characteristics (adults only) - 71% Physical disability, 55% Mental health condition, 27% Chronic health problem, 12% Substance use disorder, 6% Developmental disability, 2% HIV/AIDS • Subpopulations - 7% Currently fleeing domestic violence 15 Family Tree is a non-profit human services agency that provides services designed to end child abuse, domestic violence, and homelessness. Jefferson Center is a non-profit community-focused mental health care and substance use services provider. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 23 The HMIS data describes the characteristics of individuals who received services at Family Tree or Jefferson Center during the month of August. When considering the HMIS data in comparison to the survey data, it should be noted that there is a higher percentage of children (48% vs. 16%), people identifying as female (60% vs. 42%), and people identifying as Hispanic/Latinx (39% vs. 28%) in the HMIS data. 2019 Point-in-Time (PIT) Count The Metro Denver Point-in-Time (PIT) count is an annual survey of people experiencing homelessness. The 2019 PIT count took place on January 28, 2019. PIT counts are required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as a condition of applying for HUD homeless assistance funds. The count only includes individuals who meet the HUD definition of literal homelessness. Literal homelessness is defined as people living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, or with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground. 434 people 283 adults 151 children The following summarizes information about who was counted in Jefferson County as part of the PIT in 2019: • Age - 35% Children (under 18), 4% Young adult (ages 18-24), 58% Adult (ages 25-64), and 3% Seniors (ages 65+) • Gender - 46% Female, 51% Male, 1% Transgender • Ethnicity - 20% Hispanic /Latinx, 47% Non-Hispanic/Latinx • Race - 61% White, 12% Black or African American, 8% Multi-Racial, 4% American Indian or Alaska Native, 3% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, 1% Asian • Characteristics (adults only) - 28% Mental health issue, 24% Substance use disorder, HIV/AIDS • Subpopulations - 12% Chronically homeless, 12% Currently fleeing domestic violence, 8% Veteran, 5% Unaccompanied youth, 0% Parenting youth There are differences in the population surveyed for the current report and who was reached in Jefferson County for the Metro Denver PIT in 2019. For example, there were higher percentages of children (35% vs. 16%) and lower percentages of people who identified as Hispanic/Latinx (20% vs. 28%) in the Metro Denver PIT. 16 In addition, fewer people meeting the definition for literal homelessness were counted during the Metro Denver PIT (434 vs. 668). These differences highlight that both assessments provide only a snapshot of people experiencing homelessness in an area at any given time and that methodological changes can impact the population that is reached for survey. 16 Note that differences reported are observations and have not been tested for statistical significance. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 24 McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program The McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program is administered by the US Department of Education to allocate McKinney-Vento funding annually to states. The goal of EHCY program is to ensure that homeless children and youth have equal access to the same free and appropriate public education. The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth as those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. 3,135 children and youth For the EHCY program, the number of homeless children and youth enrolled and served in public schools must be reported by each district. For the 2017-2018 school year, there were 63 counties in Colorado who reported the number of homeless children and youth. Compared to other counties, Jefferson County reported the second highest number of homeless children and youth with a total of 3,135. The majority of homeless children and youth (80%) were living in doubled-up housing arrangements due to economic hardship. Nine percent lived in hotels or motels, eight percent lived in shelters, transitional housing, or are awaiting foster care, and three percent were unsheltered. The comprehensive homeless count was conducted at the start of the 2019-2020 school year while Jefferson County School District was migrating to a new computer system. This made it difficult for the school district's homeless liaisons to conduct the survey. This logistical challenge and the differences in data captured through the EHCY program highlight the possibility that there may be many more children in unstable housing conditions that were not captured in the comprehensive count. Interpretation of data in the current report should consider the possibility that there is a higher percentage of children in the community in need of stable housing and related services than are captured in this report. 2019 #RealCollege Survey The #RealCollege Survey is an annual assessment of basic needs insecurity among college students. The survey is administered at two- and four-year institutions across the United States by The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University. Red Rocks Community College participated in the 2019 survey. During the fall semester the survey was distributed to approximately 6,600 students and 148 students participated. To measure homelessness, the survey asked a series of questions that align with the definition of homelessness based on the McKinney Vento Act. 21% of survey respondents reported experiencing homelessness in the previous year. Red Rocks Community College participated in the comprehensive count; however, survey administration wasn’t focused on students who may be experiencing homelessness. Because of this, most college students surveyed during the comprehensive count did not meet the definition of homelessness. College students are likely underrepresented in the comprehensive count and the #RealCollege survey helps fill a critical gap in knowledge about homelessness among this population. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 25 Stories from Survey Volunteers After the comprehensive homeless count was complete, Jefferson County collected stories from survey volunteers about the individuals they surveyed during the month of August. Eleven volunteers shared 17 stories. The stories fell into three main themes: unstable housing, challenges with mental health or other health issues, and inability to afford high rent or upfront costs. Names and other identifiers have been changed or removed. Unstable housing was mentioned eight times, volunteers shared that some people would be living with friends or family temporarily or would be uncertain of where they would be sleeping in the future. " 'Dick and Jane' were a young married couple Towards the end of the summer, as temperatures were steadily dropping, I asked them what they were going to do or where they were going to go in the fall. Dick said that they were going to go stay with his mother in her apartment in Aurora. They were both optimistic that the move would be good for them and that they could help out his mom as well. Finally, after the first freeze, Dick and Jane did leave and we didn’t see them for a few weeks. Unfortunately, their move was not permanent… " "I was a volunteer in the count in Lakewood and there is a young adult at one of the hotels that we visited who had a story. It was her, her mother and father, and a niece and nephew that were staying in the hotel. They were homeless for most of the year on and off. The only income they relied on was the father's Social Security. And that was not enough for all five of them to live off of. The day that I surveyed her, it was to be their last night there because they could not afford another night." Mental health and other health issues were mentioned in six stories recalled by volunteers. In some stories, health issues were also directly related to the loss of housing or a housing opportunity. " 'Harry' is a disabled veteran who began the shower truck season with us, but then left for a short time in the middle of the summer to go back to the V.A.17 for some type of health-related issue. When he returned, it was like the difference between night and day! …As the summer wore on, Harry spent more and more time just sleeping out under a tree… " "An older gentleman was holding a sign on the median of an underpass in Lakewood. He was very friendly and well-spoken. He told us that he had a great job, nice home, and was married to the love of his life. She was diagnosed with cancer and the bills for her medical treatment drained his savings. When she passed, he had nothing left and has been on the streets since." "One family I interviewed had a section 8 voucher but had been unable to find housing. I knew the family as frequent utilizers of the severe weather motel system. From my perspective, I didn't think they had much chance of finding housing. She was in a wheelchair due to loss of part of her feet to frostbite and couldn't get around town to look at apartments very easily…I heard later that the voucher did expire, and she lost the housing opportunity." 17 US Department of Veterans Affairs ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 26 Inability to afford rent or upfront cost was a common challenge mentioned five times in stories from volunteers and was related to people living in motels/hotels and unstable housing. "I met a father with one of his young sons in a motel room. He told us he was trying to stay in the area so that his 2 children could stay in their school nearby. His car broke down and he was relying on buses to get to work. He could not afford to rent an apartment (first, last month rents and security deposit) plus he didn’t have a great credit rating." "One of the persons was an older man, at least in his fifties, with several health issues, including a condition that made it difficult for him to stand. Yet, he worked at [a restaurant] in Olde Town Arvada as a custodian and dishwasher. He told us he likes the job, likes his boss and feels like he works hard; however, he does not get paid enough to find a place to live. At the point we talked to him he was not homeless because he was living temporarily with a family member; however, we got the impression that he could not live there permanently. " ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 27 Conclusions Local governments in Jefferson County partnered to conduct a survey to better understand homelessness in the county and to collect high quality data to inform the policies and services that are needed to prevent and address homelessness in the future. The 2019 Jefferson County comprehensive homeless count identified 997 individuals experiencing homelessness during August 2019. The survey was a success due to the hard work and dedication of the Steering Committee, service providers, community members, and volunteers across Jefferson County. The survey used an expanded definition of homelessness and attempted to understand the experiences of people who are not traditionally included in other assessments of homelessness. Even though the methodology represents the most comprehensive approach available, the results should be considered a conservative estimate of homelessness in Jefferson County. The survey results are strengthened by the other available data sources. The survey data, HMIS data, and PIT data reveal consistent themes about the experiences and challenges for a diverse population with many different needs. The McKinney-Vento data and #RealCollege survey provide unique information about populations that are likely underrepresented in the comprehensive count – children, youth, and college students. Finally, the narrative stories from survey volunteers provide important context about the impact of unstable housing, challenges with mental health or other health issues, and inability to afford rent or upfront costs. The 2019 Jefferson County count provides valuable information about the homeless population. Key takeaways gleaned through this survey include: • 997 individuals met the expanded definition of homelessness. • Half of people experiencing homelessness were unsheltered • Homelessness disproportionately impacts people of color. Compared to the general population of Jefferson County, people experiencing homelessness were more likely to be a member of a racial or ethnic minority group. • 62% of people experiencing homelessness report suffering from at least one disabling condition and 21% are chronically homeless. • There are gaps in the county in services related to housing assistance, transportation and shelter. More households report needing services in these areas compared to the number of households that report receiving services in these areas. • Transportation, cost, and lack of availability are the top three barriers to accessing services in Jefferson County. The data in this report can be used to educate the public, service providers, and policy makers about the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness in Jefferson County and take action to prevent and address homelessness in the future. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 28 Appendix A: Survey Instrument ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 29 ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 30 Appendix B: Jefferson County Data Jefferson County Demographics, Characteristics, and Subpopulations Number Percent Total number of households 707 100% Household with at least one adult and one child 99 14% Household with only children 3 Household without children 605 86% Total number of persons 997 100% Age Children (under 18) 158 16% Young adults (ages 18-24) 78 8% Adults (ages 25-64) 665 67% Seniors (ages 65+) 44 4% Not reported 52 5% Gender Male 544 55% Female 423 42% Transgender 4 Gender non-conforming 1 Don’t identify 1 Not reported 24 2% Race White 630 63% Multi-Racial 114 11% Black 81 8% American Indian or Alaskan Native 45 5% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 8 1% Asian 3 Not reported 116 12% Ethnicity Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx 569 57% Hispanic or Latinx 279 28% Not reported 146 15% Chronically homeless 214 21% Veteran* 55 7% Domestic violence* 118 15% Serious mental illness* 222 28% Substance use disorder* 207 26% Chronic health problem* 221 28% HIV/AIDS* 5 1% Disability* 257 33% * Only includes adults over age 18 (n = 787) ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 31 Jefferson County Unsheltered Sleeping Location Number Percent Total unsheltered 516 52% On the street/sidewalk/encampment/under a bridge/park 303 30% In a car or other vehicle 200 20% Other 13 1% Sheltered Sleeping Location Number Percent Total sheltered 481 48% Hotel/motel that you pay for 143 14% With a friend/family member in housing that they rent/own 121 12% Emergency, youth, or domestic violence shelter 80 8% Hotel/motel paid for by a voucher 53 5% An apartment/house that you rent/own with no housing subsidy 42 4% Transitional housing 19 2% An apartment/house that you rent/own with housing subsidy 13 1% Institutional setting 10 1% City Number Percent Lakewood 486 49% Arvada 189 19% Wheat Ridge 93 9% Unincorporated Jefferson County 82 8% Golden 42 4% Westminster 39 4% Edgewater 14 1% City not reported 31 3% Other 21 2% Youth Subpopulations Number Percent Unaccompanied youth 14 1% Parenting youth 21 2% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 32 Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 467 66% 37 5% Food 425 60% 425 60% Transportation assistance 241 34% 61 9% Medical or dental services 219 31% 289 41% Shelter 196 28% 61 9% Help to find a job 158 22% 38 5% Mental health services 132 19% 76 11% Help getting personal identification 103 15% 47 7% Childcare or school services 31 4% 22 3% Detox 23 3% 11 2% None 44 6% 132 19% Other 110 16% 81 11% Jefferson County Services Needed and Received Barriers to Services Number Percent Transportation 258 36% Cost of services 233 33% Lack of available services 218 31% Lack of mailing address 123 17% Credit history 123 17% Mental health 97 14% Shelter policies 69 10% Criminal background 68 10% Lack of personal identification 68 10% Substance use 49 7% Being on parole or protective orders 46 7% Pet or service animal 45 6% Lack of interest in services 23 3% Lack of culturally competent services 15 2% Language barrier 12 2% None 69 10% Other 137 19% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 33 Appendix C: City Data Arvada Demographics, Characteristics, and Subpopulations Number Percent Total number of households 125 100% Household with at least one adult and one child 24 19% Household with only children 2 2% Household without children 99 79% Total number of persons 189 100% Age Children (under 18) 43 23% Young adults (ages 18-24) 18 20% Adults (ages 25-64) 115 61% Seniors (ages 65+) 3 2% Not reported 10 5% Gender Male 100 53% Female 84 44% Transgender 2 1% Gender non-conforming 0 0% Don’t identify 0 0% Not reported 3 2% Race White 113 60% Multi-Racial 31 16% Black 16 8% American Indian or Alaskan Native 7 4% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2 1% Asian 0 0% Not reported 20 11% Ethnicity Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx 109 58% Hispanic or Latinx 61 32% Not reported 19 10% Chronically homeless 54 29% Veteran* 8 6% Domestic violence* 26 19% Serious mental illness* 41 30% Substance use disorder* 38 28% Chronic health problem* 37 27% HIV/AIDS* 2 2% Disability* 39 29% * Only includes adults over age 18 (n = 136) ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 34 Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 85 68% 7 6% Food 82 66% 82 66% Transportation assistance 48 38% 13 10% Medical or dental services 35 28% 62 50% Shelter 32 26% 22 18% Help getting personal identification 24 19% 5 4% Mental health services 20 16% 12 10% Help to find a job 19 15% 7 6% Childcare or school services 8 6% 6 5% Detox 2 2% 3 2% None 10 8% 8 6% Other 17 14% 19 15% Arvada Services Needed and Received Barriers to Services Number Percent Cost of services 44 35% Transportation 42 34% Lack of available services 33 26% Credit history 30 24% Lack of mailing address 19 15% Mental health 18 14% Criminal background 14 11% Lack of personal identification 13 10% Shelter policies 12 10% Being on parole or protective orders 12 10% Substance use 9 7% Pet or service animal 6 5% Lack of interest in services 3 2% Lack of culturally competent services 2 2% Language barrier 1 1% None 16 13% Other 29 23% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 35 Edgewater Demographics, Characteristics, and Subpopulations Number Percent Total number of households 13 100% Household with at least one adult and one child 1 8% Household with only children 0 0% Household without children 12 92% Total number of persons 14 100% Age Children (under 18) 1 7% Young adults (ages 18-24) 0 0% Adults (ages 25-64) 11 79% Seniors (ages 65+) 2 14% Not reported 0 0% Gender Male 9 64% Female 5 36% Transgender 0 0% Gender non-conforming 0 0% Don’t identify 0 0% Not reported 0 0% Race White 4 29% Multi-Racial 3 21% Black 1 7% American Indian or Alaskan Native 3 21% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 1 7% Asian 0 0% Not reported 2 14% Ethnicity Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx 9 64% Hispanic or Latinx 3 21% Not reported 2 14% Chronically homeless 5 36% Veteran* 3 23% Domestic violence* 2 15% Serious mental illness* 3 23% Substance use disorder* 5 39% Chronic health problem* 2 15% HIV/AIDS* 0 0% Disability* 6 46% * Only includes adults over age 18 (n=13) ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 36 Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 9 69% 0 0% Transportation assistance 8 62% 2 15% Shelter 8 62% 2 15% Food 7 54% 7 54% Mental health services 4 31% 2 15% Medical or dental services 3 23% 8 62% Help to find a job 3 23% 0 0% Help getting personal identification 3 23% 1 8% Childcare or school services 0 0% 1 8% Detox 0 0% 0 0% None 0 0% 2 15% Other 3 23% 0 0% Edgewater Services Needed and Received Barriers to Services Number Percent Cost of services 7 54% Transportation 5 38% Lack of available services 5 38% Mental health 2 15% Shelter policies 2 15% Substance use 2 15% Criminal background 1 8% Lack of personal identification 1 8% Pet or service animal 1 8% Lack of interest in services 1 8% Lack of culturally competent services 1 8% Lack of mailing address 0 0% Credit history 0 0% Being on parole or protective orders 0 0% Language barrier 0 0% None 2 15% Other 2 15% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 37 Golden Demographics, Characteristics, and Subpopulations Number Percent Total number of households 34 100% Household with at least one adult and one child 3 9% Household with only children 0 0% Household without children 31 91% Total number of persons 42 100% Age Children (under 18) 3 7% Young adults (ages 18-24) 4 10% Adults (ages 25-64) 31 74% Seniors (ages 65+) 1 2% Not reported 3 7% Gender Male 29 69% Female 12 29% Transgender 0 0% Gender non-conforming 0 0% Don’t identify 1 2% Not reported 0 0% Race White 28 67% Multi-Racial 4 10% Black 3 7% American Indian or Alaskan Native 2 5% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0 0% Asian 0 0% Not reported 5 12% Ethnicity Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx 26 62% Hispanic or Latinx 11 26% Not reported 5 12% Chronically homeless 9 21% Veteran* 2 6% Domestic violence* 5 14% Serious mental illness* 14 39% Substance use disorder* 13 36% Chronic health problem* 8 22% HIV/AIDS* 0 0% Disability* 13 36% * Only includes adults over age 18 (n = 36) ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 38 Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 19 56% 0 0% Food 15 44% 15 44% Shelter 15 44% 1 3% Medical or dental services 12 35% 11 32% Transportation assistance 10 29% 3 9% Mental health services 9 26% 3 9% Help to find a job 8 24% 1 3% Help getting personal identification 5 15% 1 3% Childcare or school services 0 0% 0 0% Detox 0 0% 0 0% None 2 6% 14 41% Other 7 21% 3 9% Golden Services Needed and Received Barriers to Services Number Percent Transportation 13 38% Credit history 12 35% Lack of mailing address 11 32% Lack of available services 9 26% Cost of Services 8 24% Criminal background 6 18% Being on parole or protective orders 6 18% Shelter policies 5 15% Mental health 4 12% Lack of personal identification 4 12% Substance use 2 6% Pet or service animal 2 6% Lack of interest in services 2 6% Lack of culturally competent services 2 6% Language barrier 1 3% None 4 12% Other 4 12% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 39 Lakewood Demographics, Characteristics, and Subpopulations Number Percent Total number of households 337 100% Household with at least one adult and one child 48 14% Household with only children 0 0% Household without children 289 86% Total number of persons 486 100% Age Children (under 18) 77 16% Young adults (ages 18-24) 32 7% Adults (ages 25-64) 328 67% Seniors (ages 65+) 22 5% Not reported 27 6% Gender Male 273 56% Female 194 40% Transgender 2 Gender non-conforming 1 Don’t identify 0 0% Not reported 16 3% Race White 302 62% Multi-Racial 62 13% Black 36 7% American Indian or Alaskan Native 20 4% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 4 1% Asian 1 Not reported 61 13% Ethnicity Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx 246 51% Hispanic or Latinx 158 33% Not reported 82 17% Chronically homeless 97 20% Veteran* 25 7% Domestic violence* 54 14% Serious mental illness* 116 30% Substance use disorder* 109 29% Chronic health problem* 110 29% HIV/AIDS* 1 Disability* 125 33% * Only includes adults over age 18 (n=382) ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 40 Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 236 70% 22 7% Food 216 64% 216 64% Transportation assistance 118 35% 28 8% Medical or dental services 109 32% 142 42% Shelter 101 30% 26 8% Help to find a job 88 26% 22 7% Mental health services 72 21% 43 13% Help getting personal identification 48 14% 36 11% Detox 18 5% 8 2% Childcare or school services 11 3% 12 4% None 15 4% 60 18% Other 54 16% 39 12% Lakewood Services Needed and Received Barriers to Services Number Percent Transportation 141 42% Cost of Services 112 33% Lack of available services 111 33% Credit history 56 17% Lack of mailing address 55 16% Mental health 53 16% Criminal background 38 11% Lack of personal identification 32 9% Shelter policies 31 9% Substance use 29 9% Pet or service animal 25 7% Being on parole or protective orders 23 7% Language barrier 10 3% Lack of culturally competent services 9 3% Lack of interest in services 8 2% None 26 8% Other 61 18% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 41 Unincorporated Jefferson County Demographics, Characteristics, and Subpopulations Number Percent Total number of households 61 100% Household with at least one adult and one child 0 0% Household with only children 6 10% Household without children 55 90% Total number of persons 82 100% Age Children (under 18) 8 10% Young adults (ages 18-24) 8 10% Adults (ages 25-64) 53 65% Seniors (ages 65+) 11 13% Not reported 2 2% Gender Male 37 45% Female 44 54% Transgender 0 0% Gender non-conforming 0 0% Don’t identify 0 0% Not reported 1 1% Race White 57 70% Multi-Racial 2 2% Black 5 6% American Indian or Alaskan Native 6 7% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0 0% Asian 1 1% Not reported 11 13% Ethnicity Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx 52 63% Hispanic or Latinx 15 18% Not reported 15 18% Chronically homeless 17 21% Veteran* 7 10% Domestic violence* 15 21% Serious mental illness* 18 25% Substance use disorder* 12 17% Chronic health problem* 19 26% HIV/AIDS* 1 1% Disability* 27 38% * Only includes adults over age 18 (n=72) ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 42 Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 40 66% 1 2% Food 40 66% 40 66% Medical or dental services 22 36% 20 33% Transportation assistance 19 31% 7 11% Shelter 12 20% 7 11% Mental health services 12 20% 5 8% Help to find a job 11 18% 5 8% Help getting personal identification 6 10% 2 3% Childcare or school services 2 3% 1 2% Detox 0 0% 0 0% None 6 10% 15 25% Other 8 13% 6 10% Unincorporated Jefferson County Services Needed and Received Barriers to Services Number Percent Lack of available services 26 43% Cost of Services 22 36% Transportation 19 31% Lack of mailing address 18 30% Credit history 12 20% Mental health 9 15% Lack of personal identification 5 8% Lack of interest in services 5 8% Shelter policies 4 7% Criminal background 4 7% Substance use 3 5% Being on parole or protective orders 2 3% Pet or service animal 2 3% Lack of culturally competent services 0 0% Language barrier 0 0% None 26 8% Other 7 11% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 43 18 Westminster is in both Jefferson and Adams County. To more fully represent homelessness in Westminster, this section includes the thirty-nine additional people who reported sleeping in the Adams County area of Westminster and did not meet any of the other exclusion criteria. Westminster18 Demographics, Characteristics, and Subpopulations Number Percent Total number of households 52 100% Household with at least one adult and one child 9 17% Household with only children 1 2% Household without children 42 81% Total number of persons 78 100% Age Children (under 18) 18 23% Young adults (ages 18-24) 4 5% Adults (ages 25-64) 52 67% Seniors (ages 65+) 1 1% Not reported 3 4% Gender Male 41 53% Female 35 45% Transgender 0 0% Gender non-conforming 0 0% Don’t identify 0 0% Not reported 2 3% Race White 45 58% Multi-Racial 4 5% Black 6 8% American Indian or Alaskan Native 5 6% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0 0% Asian 0 0% Not reported 18 23% Ethnicity Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx 47 60% Hispanic or Latinx 20 26% Not reported 11 14% Chronically homeless 15 19% Veteran* 6 11% Domestic violence* 11 19% Serious Mental illness* 11 19% Substance use disorder* 19 33% Chronic health problem* 11 19% HIV/AIDS* 1 2% Disability* 10 18% * Only includes adults over age 18 (n=57) ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 44 Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 30 58% 0 0% Food 23 44% 23 44% Transportation assistance 16 31% 4 8% Medical or dental services 15 29% 20 38% Shelter 14 27% 1 2% Help to find a job 13 25% 2 4% Mental health services 8 15% 7 13% Help getting personal identification 7 13% 0 0% Childcare or school services 3 6% 0 0% Detox 2 4% 1 2% None 5 10% 15 29% Other 2 4% 4 8% Westminster Services Needed and Received Barriers to Services Number Percent Transportation 20 38% Cost of Services 11 21% Lack of mailing address 9 17% Lack of available services 7 13% Shelter policies 7 13% Mental health 6 12% Substance use 6 12% Credit history 5 10% Lack of personal identification 5 10% Pet or service animal 3 6% Being on parole or protective orders 2 4% Lack of interest in services 2 4% Lack of culturally competent services 2 4% Language barrier 2 4% Criminal background 1 2% None 3 6% Other 15 29% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 45 Wheat Ridge Demographics, Characteristics, and Subpopulations Number Percent Total number of households 66 100% Household with at least one adult and one child 7 11% Household with only children 1 2% Household without children 58 88% Total number of persons 93 100% Age Children (under 18) 16 17% Young adults (ages 18-24) 6 6% Adults (ages 25-64) 66 71% Seniors (ages 65+) 3 3% Not reported 2 2% Gender Male 53 57% Female 39 42% Transgender 0 0% Gender non-conforming 0 0% Don’t identify 0 0% Not reported 1 1% Race White 65 70% Multi-Racial 8 9% Black 13 14% American Indian or Alaskan Native 2 2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0 0% Asian 0 0% Not reported 5 5% Ethnicity Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx 64 69% Hispanic or Latinx 17 18% Not reported 12 13% Chronically homeless 19 20% Veteran* 6 8% Domestic violence* 7 9% Serious mental illness* 11 15% Substance use disorder* 14 19% Chronic health problem* 24 32% HIV/AIDS* 0 0% Disability* 31 41% * Only includes adults over age 18 (n=75) ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 46 Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 44 67% 5 8% Food 38 58% 38 58% Transportation assistance 23 35% 4 6% Medical or dental services 20 30% 25 38% Help to find a job 17 26% 1 2% Shelter 15 23% 2 3% Help getting personal identification 12 18% 1 2% Mental health services 10 15% 3 5% Childcare or school services 3 5% 1 2% Detox 1 2% 0 0% None 6 9% 14 21% Other 16 24% 9 14% Wheat Ridge Services Needed and Received Barriers to Services Number Percent Cost of Services 26 39% Transportation 22 33% Lack of available services 22 33% Lack of mailing address 12 18% Credit history 10 15% Shelter policies 9 14% Lack of personal identification 9 14% Pet or service animal 6 9% Mental health 4 6% Criminal background 2 3% Being on parole or protective orders 2 3% Lack of interest in services 2 3% Substance use 1 2% Lack of culturally competent services 0 0% Language barrier 0 0% None 11 17% Other 15 23% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 47 Appendix D: Slept Outside Jefferson County Data Slept Outside Jefferson County Demographics, Characteristics, and Subpopulations Number Percent Total number of households 205 100% Household with at least one adult and one child 31 15% Household with only children 1 Household without children 173 84% Total number of persons 289 100% Age Children (under 18) 54 19% Young adults (ages 18-24) 24 8% Adults (ages 25-64) 189 65% Seniors (ages 65+) 10 3% Not reported 12 4% Gender Male 160 55% Female 118 41% Transgender 0 0% Gender non-conforming 1 Don’t identify 0 0% Not reported 10 3% Race White 158 55% Multi-Racial 19 7% Black 30 10% American Indian or Alaskan Native 18 6% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0 0% Asian 5 2% Not reported 59 20% Ethnicity Non-Hispanic or Non-Latinx 152 53% Hispanic or Latinx 79 27% Not reported 58 20% Chronically homeless 64 22% Veteran* 25 11% Domestic violence* 34 15% Serious mental illness* 61 27% Substance use disorder* 69 31% Chronic health problem* 58 26% HIV/AIDS* 3 1% Disability* 65 29% * Only includes adults over age 18 (n=223) ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 48 Service Needs Services Received Number Percent Number Percent Housing assistance 113 55% 7 3% Food 95 46% 95 46% Transportation assistance 71 35% 17 8% Medical or dental services 64 31% 72 35% Shelter 58 28% 13 6% Help to find a job 47 23% 10 5% Mental health services 46 22% 14 7% Help getting personal identification 28 14% 10 5% Childcare or school services 9 4% 4 2% Detox 6 3% 4 2% None 26 13% 56 27% Other 28 14% 26 13% Slept Outside Jefferson County Services Needed and Received Barriers to Services Number Percent Transportation 70 34% Lack of available services 60 29% Cost of Services 47 23% Lack of mailing address 36 18% Credit history 28 14% Criminal background 17 8% Lack of personal identification 17 8% Substance use 15 7% Being on parole or protective orders 12 6% Lack of interest in services 6 3% Pet or service animal 5 2% Lack of culturally competent services 4 2% Language barrier 3 1% Credit history 28 14% Criminal background 17 8% None 29 14% Other 34 17% ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 49 Appendix E: Glossary Adult: Person aged 18 and older Child: Person under age 18 Chronically homeless person: Defined by HUD as a person who is homeless and lives in a place not meant for human habitation, a Safe Haven, or in an emergency shelter; and has been homeless and living or residing in a place not meant for human habitation, a safe haven, or in an emergency shelter continuously for at least 1 year or on at least four separate occasions in the last 3 years where the combined length of time homeless in those occasions is at least 12 months; and has a disability. Chronic health problem: Conditions that last one year or more and require ongoing medical attention or limit activities of daily living or both. Cost-burdened: Defined by HUD as households that pay more than 30% of their gross income for housing. Disability: Any individual with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. Emergency shelter: Any facility whose primary purpose is to provide temporary shelter for the homeless in general or for specific populations of the homeless and which does not require occupants to sign leases or occupancy agreements. Emergency shelter is short-term, usually for 180 days or fewer. Domestic violence shelters are typically considered a type of emergency shelter, as they provide safe, immediate housing for survivors and their children. HEARTH Act: The 2009 Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act amends and reauthorizes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The Act includes several changes including consolidating grant programs, creation of a Rural Housing Stability Assistance Program, and an increase in prevention resources, HIV/AIDS: Adults who have been diagnosed with AIDS and/or have tested positive for HIV. HMIS: The Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a software application designed to record and store client-level information on the characteristics and service needs of homeless persons. Homeless: In this report, homelessness is defined as individuals and families living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, those who are unsheltered, or those who don't have stable housing (not able to sleep or stay in the same place for next 14 days, does not have resources to pay for housing for next 14 days, haven't had consistent housing for last 60 days). ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 50 Household without children: Households with adults only. This includes households composed of unaccompanied adults (including unaccompanied youth age 18 to 24) and multiple adults (including households with multiple youth ages 18 to 24). Household with at least one adult and one child: Households with (at least) one adult (including youth ages 18 to 24) and one child. Household with only children: Households composed exclusively of persons under age 18, including one-child households, multiple-child households, or other household configurations composed only of children. HUD: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Literal homelessness: Individuals and families living in an emergency shelter, transitional housing, or with a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground. McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act: A United States federal law related to the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. Specific provisions ensure the enrollment, accessibility, and educational stability for students lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. Parenting youth: A youth who identifies as the parent or legal guardian of one or more children who are present with or sleeping in the same place as that youth parent, where there is no person over age 24 in the household. Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): permanent housing with indefinite leasing or rental assistance paired with supportive services to assist homeless persons with a disability or families with an adult or child member with a disability achieve housing stability. Point-in-Time (PIT) count: HUD-required, annual count of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons carried out on one night in the last 10 calendar days of January. Serious mental illness: Adults with a severe and persistent mental illness or emotional impairment that seriously limits a person's ability to live independently. Sheltered: Individuals who are living in hotels/motels, in housing with friends, emergency shelters, apartments/houses, transitional housing, and institutional settings. Substance use disorder: Adults with a substance use problem (alcohol abuse, drug use, or both). Survivor of domestic violence: Adults who are currently experiencing homelessness because they are fleeing domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking. ---PAGE BREAK--- Comprehensive Count Final Report I 51 Transitional housing: Housing in which individuals and families experiencing homelessness may live and receive supportive services that enable them to live more independently. Supportive services, which help promote residential stability, increased skill level or income, and greater self- determination, may be provided by the organization managing the housing, or coordinated by that organization and provided by other public or private agencies. Transitional housing can be provided in one structure or several structures at one site, or in multiple structures at scattered sites. Unaccompanied youth: Persons under age 25 who are not presenting or sleeping in the same place as their parent or legal guardian or their own children. Unsheltered: Individuals who are living on the streets, in abandoned buildings, storage structures, vehicles, encampments, or any other place unfit for human habitation. Veteran: Adults who have served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States. Youth: Persons under age 25.