The Homeless Situation Around Chicago

A point-in-time count and survey of unsheltered and sheltered homeless persons in Chicago took place the night of January 27, 2009. A similar count and survey was conducted in 2007. The intent was to produce a comprehensive count and survey of the homeless in Chicago. Some key findings in the survey are shown below:

• Based on the estimates from the Point-in-Time count "2009" table there were 6,240 homeless people in the City of Chicago in 2009. This is 318 persons higher than the estimated 5,922 individuals in 2007 (5% increase). It should be noted that this increase is in direct correlation to the increased number of sites participating in the 2009 Count.
• The number of homeless families (adults with children up to age 21) increased substantially (45% in shelters; 870 families total) when including the new sites.
• Regarding age, the largest portion of people homeless are in the 41-60 year old range (35%) followed by 22-40 year old (29%) and then youth age 17 and under (28%). This distribution has remained relatively stable since 2005. When comparing sheltered to unsheltered, the portion of youth increase in shelters to 34% and drops to 2% among unsheltered. Among unsheltered adults, most (53%) are age 41-60, a slight increase (4%) since 2007.
• For all homeless individuals, two-thirds of males and one-third of females report having spent time in jail or prison. Among homeless adults in shelter, there was a 6% increase in males who had been in prison or jail and a slight increase in females (2%). Among unsheltered homeless adults, there appears to be a significant increase in females (20%) and small increase in males (7%).
• There was no change in the rate of "chronic homelessness" among the population of homeless single adults. In 2007 26% of Chicago's homeless population met the federal definition of chronic homelessness and in 2009 the rate was 25.9%.
• The majority of homeless adults continues to be African American (79%). There was a 5% increase in the Hispanic population, representing 11% of the homeless population in 2009 compared to 6% in 2007.

For the Executive Summary of The 2009 City of Chicago Homeless Point-In-Time Count, click here.

Source: Chicago Department of Family & Support Services