Homeless Folks Increase, Some Live in Woods

RIO GRANDE — Homeless people are easy to ignore. Some Cape May County residents might be surprised to learn that some lack homes in this resort county.
Some huddle in the woods of Rio Grande, like a shadow civilization. Others are placed in various motels, paid by emergency vouchers from the county. Still others reside with family or friends, and thus may not be considered “homeless” except on government reports.
All those persons, young or old, have a common bond of nowhere to call home.
The county government does what it can to assist those persons, following a multitude of federal regulations to count, define and assist those homeless.
According to statistics provided by the Cape May County Department of Human Services, in 2010, there were 317 homeless in the county. They included 54 families lacking homes, which collectively totals 157.
There were 160 individuals classified as homeless, and nine who earned the dubious distinction as “chronic homeless.” That means they were continuously without a home for 12 months or longer or had four or more “episodes” of homelessness in three years.
A Point in Time Survey was done for the last six years by the department. That count is executed statewide on the same day to determine the population of homeless.
Those who work in social services well know the numbers and the need.
As an indication of the severity of the problem in Cape May County, in 2005, there were 163 total homeless, in 2006, 266; in 2007, 295; in 2008, 300; in 2009, 224 and in 2010, 317.
In that same period, the number of homeless families climbed from 59 to the present 157.
In 2009, the county Board of Social Services reported that had been “a major reduction in the GA (General Assistance) roles from December 2007 to December 2008. The board explained that the GA population had decreased by 100 during that period.
The decrease in the population was attributed to a movement out of the county in search of employment and housing. The board also noted that the number of service, unskilled and/or “under the table” jobs available in the county had drastically decreased. Many on that type of assistance would seek that type of employment to supplement their income.
Regarding the dramatic increase in number of homeless this year, the board explained, “There has been a dramatic increase in the number of clients that are seeking assistance from the Emergency Assistance Unit, including individuals who are receiving GA.”
That population dipped in 2007-08, but is again increasing.
“The economy, specifically, that lack of jobs for unskilled and/or day work is believed to have contributed to this increase,” the board reported.
This county, deemed a “destination county” by the board, puts up the homeless in motels and hotels for emergency shelter.
“Those with knowledge of this homeless system can utilize the system to their advantage,” the board reports.
As with many subjects that are connected to government reporting, the definitions used to define “homeless” will impact the count.
For example, only individuals can be considered “chronically homeless” according to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as previously described.
Persons who are doubled or tripled in housing cannot be considered homeless by HUD standards.
Those definitions have been modified and the changed will become effective in 2011, and thus has the potential to impact next year’s count.
General turndown in rental market has also had its effect on homeless people.
The loss of boarding houses, many in Wildwood, for example, was due to construction of condominiums. That made it “significantly more difficult for families and individuals to locate and secure housing,” the board reported.
“Thus, those that lose their housing may become homeless before new housing is found.” That fact, the board stated, “can also be attributed to the increase in the number of chronic homeless in 2008 as the inability to secure housing would cause individuals to remain in a state of homelessness for a longer time period and thus, meet the time requirements for ‘chronic homeless.’” it stated.
HUD’s priority has been toward ending chronic homelessness. For that reason, HUD has awarded “bonus funding” to counties, such as Cape May, that “prioritize housing for the chronically homeless.”
“While Cape May County has always acknowledged the need for homeless services for families as these numbers are increasing, in order to maximize funding received from HUD, programs serving individuals have needed to be the number one priority.
“In 2011, HUD will expand the definition of chronically homeless to include families,” the report stated.
According to Patricia Devaney, director, county Department of Human Services, “While there is the acknowledgement that emergency shelter is a reality in the homeless system, the goal of this (HUD) funding is to provide permanent housing. Thus, hotels and motels continue to be the option for emergency placement.
“However, the long-term goal is to receive funding to obtain and/or build permanent supportive housing so that homeless individuals and families can be placed in stable, secure housing rather than using a shelter,” she stated.
Homeless families are placed in hotels and motels as the emergency option. If families are eligible and a permanent supportive housing voucher is available, a caseworker from the sponsoring agency will work with the family to locate housing,” Devaney stated.
Cape Counseling Service has Lily Mae, a 12-unit permanent supportive housing unit for persons with mental illness, formerly deemed homeless persons with mental illness.
That building has 12 single rooms for 12 individuals plus a unit for the resident manager. All 12 occupants receive a rental subsidy voucher; HUD funding provides the rent for the 12 units.
Overseeing the county’s provision for its homeless is the Continuum of Care Committee. It is made up of 25 individuals representing government, state, county and local, community service providers, businesses and consumers.
The body sets the local funding priorities in line with HUD funding priorities. As an example, HUD’s priority is permanent housing.
If the Continuum of Care Committee does not establish that same priority, its plan will lose points and may not score high enough to receive any funding, Devaney noted.
Therefore, it is in the Continuum of Care Committee’s best interest to have its priorities aligned with HUD’s.
Permanent supportive housing can be housing vouchers to use at scattered sites throughout the county, similar to state rental assistance or units within a single structure, considered project-based, like Lily Mae.
Devaney pointed out that “permanent supportive housing is not a shelter. Shelters are emergency housing.
The Continuum of Care Committee has discussed the shelter issue, but has decided to focus on permanent housing for two reasons: First, this funding is not for the provision of shelters and, two, once a shelter is full, there is still the need for hotel/motel emergency placements, but with permanent supportive housing, individuals/families are afforded long-term housing stability.
On Tue., Nov. 23, freeholders passed a resolution to submit the county’s plan to HUD for $200,031 in renewal funding.
That funding, stated Devaney, “will be used to continue the 12 housing vouchers for the 12 individuals living at Lily Mae. The program was originally funded for five years. According to HUD regulations, it must now be submitted for review on an annual basis.”
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com