The Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness was in print media and on television for an interview on Tuesday January 13, 2009, on rates of homelessness in the Commonwealth of Virginia. 

Media Coverage:
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FOR RELEASE   January 13, 2009      
Contact: Phyllis Gilberti Chamberlain; Phone: 804-368-1642; phyllis@vceh.org
       
  
HOMELESSNESS DECREASED BY 6 PERCENT IN VIRGINIA
Communities Expect Increases Due to Economic Crisis


Richmond, Virginia - Virginia experienced a 6 percent decrease in homelessness from 2005 to 2007 according to the Homelessness Counts report released by the Homelessness Research Institute of the National Alliance to End Homelessness.  The number of individuals experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness in Virginia decreased by 12 percent while the number of families experiencing homelessness remained the same.
 
Every community in the nation and in Virginia will collect this data again at the end of January 2009.  Many expect the economic and housing foreclosure crises will reverse any decreases communities have seen and increase rates of homelessness. 

A number of factors contribute to homelessness - lack of income, eviction due to foreclosure, physical health and disability, mental health and trauma, substance abuse, and weak social networks - but a lack of affordable housing, both in Virginia and across the nation is the primary driver.  
 
"The reduction in the incidence of chronic homelessness in Virginia reflects investments made in permanent supportive housing - affordable housing linked to supportive services - which clearly works to end homelessness.  However we must do more to prevent and end homelessness among families," said Phyllis Gilberti Chamberlain, Executive Director of the Virginia Coalition to End Homelessness.  "Today, a bipartisan group of state legislators announced a "Help Housing Now" legislative package that includes a rental assistance program to help families access affordable housing.  We urge the Virginia General Assembly to fully support this rental assistance program to assist families to achieve the stability they need and to prevent families from becoming homeless because of the economic and housing foreclosure crises."

Given the Commonwealth's significant state budget deficit, the federal government must be a full partner in community work to prevent and end homelessness.  "Our hope is that this year the new Administration and Congress will make ending the tragedy of homelessness an important part of their plans for change," said Nan Roman, President of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. "We encourage them to use the upcoming economic recovery bill to help people who lose their jobs or are evicted as the result of foreclosure to avoid homelessness. Small amounts of money for rent or utilities can help people stay in their homes." 
 
The report, which contains both state and national data, shows a 10 percent decrease in homelessness in the nation, from 744,313 per night in January 2005 to 671,859 per night in January 2007. This includes a 28 percent decrease in chronic (long-term) homelessness and an 18 percent decrease in family homelessness across the nation.

In Virginia, 9,746 people including individuals and families with children experienced homelessness in 2007 compared to 10,346 in 2005.  For every 10,000 Virginians, there are 13 people experiencing homelessness.

The 2005 and 2007 estimates are compilations of point-in-time counts collected by local Continuums of Care (CoCs) - the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defined jurisdictions that oversee services assisting those who experience homelessness and are required to count their populations experiencing homelessness every other year on one night in January. As such, the report provides data on CoCs within states as well. Despite limitations, the estimates act as a tool for assessing the progress the nation has made on reducing homelessness. 

Data for every state and community (CoC) for which data are available, as well as an explanation of the methods used to collect the data, are included in the full report.