Bridging The Gap CoC Homeless Point-in-Time Count January 22, 2023
Report Prepared By: Ka Mana O Na Helu, April 2023
Executive Summary
Ka Mana O Na Helu (KMNH) is the Collaborative Applicant and Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) Lead Agency for Bridging The Gap (BTG) Continuum of Care and is responsible for conducting and reporting the findings of the local Point-in-Time Count (PIT) in BTG’s annual funding application to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). KMNH has prepared this report to convey 2023 Point-in-Time Count results, and to compare this data to prior years. This report presents an in-depth view of regional homelessness, including demographic information and county profiles of homelessness by sub-population for the rural counties of Hawai`i, Kaua`i, and Maui, also known as the neighbor islands. The goal of this report is to inform the community at large, elected officials, government agencies, and other stakeholders of the immediate homeless situation on the neighbor islands. This report endeavors to provide comprehensive data to promote informed decision-making for future funding activities, local strategic planning efforts, capacity building, and program development within BTG. Findings from the local PIT effort will assist the federal, state, and county government in better understanding the extent and nature of homelessness.
Sunday, January 22, 2023, was the official night of the 2023 PIT. PIT data indicates that efforts to end family and veteran homelessness are effectively reducing homelessness for these populations in some communities. However, contrasting PIT data shows that homelessness continues to increase overall.
Results from the 2023 PIT revealed a nine percent increase in total one-day homelessness from 2,022 persons in 2022 to 2,195 persons in 2023. This 173-person increase can be attributed to overall increases in the counties of Hawai`i and Kaua`i, with Maui realizing a net decrease. Hawai`i and Kaua`i counties realized 20 and 10 percent increases respectively in total homelessness driven largely by increases in unsheltered homelessness, while Maui declined five percent overall. Maui’s net decrease of 37 persons compared to 2022 resulted from a 12-person increase in sheltered homelessness, and a 49-person decrease in unsheltered homelessness.
The overall increase in 2023 was fueled by an 11 percent increase in unsheltered homelessness to 1,542 persons compared to 1,394 in 2022. Unsheltered homelessness rose in two of the three rural counties, with Hawai`i up 20 percent and Kaua`i 10 percent. Maui realized an 11 percent reduction in unsheltered homelessness, declining from 436 to 387 persons in 2023. The count of sheltered homeless persons staying in emergency or transitional facilities increased four percent from 628 to 653 persons. This increase resulted from an uptick in shelter utilization reported in Maui and Kaua`i counties, while Hawai`i county’s shelter utilization fell slightly by five people. This marks the first year dating back to 2019, in which the aggregate shelter census has risen compared to the prior year. Sheltered homelessness rose most on Kaua`i, with an 18-person increase compared to 2022, this was followed by Maui, reporting a 12-person increase. Final sheltered utilization data for Hawai`i, Kaua`i, and Maui on the night of the count showed 278, 58, and 317 total sheltered persons respectively.
An assessment of the type of individuals experiencing homelessness in 2023 found that of the 2,195 total persons enumerated, 1,577 were individuals, representing 72 percent of the total one day estimate. Individuals are defined throughout this report as people in households (single or multiple adults) without children under the age of 18. A total of 618 family individuals within 166 families were homeless, including 51 families and 187 persons in these families that were living unsheltered. The 51 unsheltered families identified in 2023 represents a two percent decline relative to 2022. A total of 102 children were found living unsheltered within these 51 families, up 10 children compared to 2022. In 2023, 115 sheltered families were counted (94 in emergency shelters and 21 in transitional housing) encompassing 431 total persons, including 239 children and 192 adults. Sheltered family homelessness rose 16 percent to 115 families in 2023, up 16 families compared to 2022. The largest increase in sheltered family homelessness was on Maui, which increased by 21 families relative to 2022.
A review of BTG subpopulation data indicates that the total number of self-reported homeless veterans decreased 16 percent to 91 veterans compared to the 2022 total of 108. A total of 73 unsheltered veterans were counted in 2023, down 15 veterans relative to the 2022 count, and down 25 veterans relative to the 2020 count. An unsheltered count was not conducted in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Overall data from 2023 shows a 49-person decline in the level of chronic homelessness among individuals compared to 2022 data, with 696 homeless individuals demonstrating chronicity. This represents a seven percent decline compared to the prior year and indicates that nearly 45 percent of the 1,554 homeless individuals enumerated this year are chronically homeless. Chronic homelessness data presented in this report is derived from self-reported responses to disability and length of homelessness questions. The 23 individuals residing in transitional housing are excluded from this calculation. The rate of chronic homelessness is much lower among individuals residing in emergency shelters and is 29 percent for 2023 (57 out of 199 individuals).
This report tabulates data on unaccompanied and parenting youth households (see Appendix 2, Tables 5 and 6). Unaccompanied youth are defined by HUD as people in households without children who are not part of a family with children or accompanied by their parent or guardian during their homelessness, and who are all 24 years of age or younger. BTG reported 43 total unaccompanied youth households in 2023, with 38 of these households (88 percent) living unsheltered, and five residing in a sheltered facility. The 2023 unaccompanied youth household count increased by only one household compared to the 42 households in 2022. There were zero unsheltered unaccompanied youth under the age of 18 reported in the 2023 count.
A parenting youth household is defined by HUD as a household that contains only persons aged 24 years or younger with one or more dependent children. In 2023, BTG reported a total of 11 parenting youth households with 36 total persons, including 16 children. The number of parenting youth households reported in 2023 increased by four compared to 2022.
Given the numbers of homeless found in these counts and the state and federal initiatives to reduce homelessness, continued recommendations to improve the overall implementation of the count include the planning, supervision and execution of the count’s efforts, the training of count staff and volunteers, the handling and verification of all survey forms and electronic data, and the introduction of data quality controls by outreach funders or the CoC.
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May, 2023: Oahu Homeless PIT Count--59% Unsheltered
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