Wilder Research Update on homelessness in Minnesota from the 2012 survey UROC event: Homeless...

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Update on homelessness in Minnesota from the 2012 survey

UROC event: Homeless Students in Higher Education

June 2013

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Point in time survey, every 3 years

Trained volunteer interviewers

On October 25, 2012:

Interviews in >250 shelters and programs

Outreach locations in >50 cities, towns, and outlying areas

Not a survey of all homeless youth -- primarily those connected to youth-serving agencies

About the statewide study

One-night study counts

3,079

4,553

5,645

7,6967,854 7,751

9,65410,214

8891,791

2,2943,178 2,862 2,726

3,251 3,546

1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012

Total count

Children with parents

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Children with their parents35%

Unaccompanied minors age 12-171%

Unaccompanied young adults age 18-2110%

Adult males age 22 or older

29%

Adult females age 22 or older

25%

2009 2012

Unaccompanied minors (17 and under) 227 146

Young adults (18-21) 1,041 1,005

Adults (22-54) 4,585 4,708

Older adults (55 and over) 526 777

Children (<18) with parents 3,251 3,546

Total 9,654* 10,214*

Changes since 2009

*Totals include homeless people (of unknown age) in detox on the night of the survey (24 in 2009 and 32 in 2012).

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Increase in numbers mainly accounted for by

– Children with their parents

– Older adults (age 55+)

22% increase in 2-parent families

Emergency shelter use up by 27%

What is new?

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Racial disparities

Long-term health issues

Traumatic experiences in childhood

Violence and exploitation

Transition years (15-21) are time of greatest risk

What does not change?

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Youth were most likely to be found outside the shelter system on the night of the survey

33% of youth spent at least night sleeping outside

53% spent time doubled up in October

11% had been homeless less than a month (a downward trend since 2000)

43% had been homeless a year or more (an upward trend since 2000)

Current homelessness situation

Youth

Homeless (age 21 & younger)

MN (age 10-24)

American Indian 12% 2%

Asian American 1% 6%

Black 37% 7%

White (non-Hispanic) 30% 76%

Other, including multi-racial 10% 6%

Hispanic (any race) 10% 7%

Racial disparities

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Long-term physical health problems (36%)

Significant mental health problems (52%)

Substance abuse disorder (16%)

Evidence of traumatic brain injury (23%)

At least one of the above (69%)

Long-term health issues

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Physically abused as a child (44%)

Sexually abused as a child (27%)

Neglected as a child (31%)

At least one of the above (55%)

Youth in the Twin Cities are less likely than youth in greater Minnesota to have been in placement (54% versus 65%).

60% of youth have had at least one parent incarcerated

Adverse childhood experiences

Youth

Female Male

Stayed in abusive situation/no housing

options35% 24%

Attacked while homeless 26% 17%

Been sexual with someone to get shelter 15% 18%

Violence and sexual exploitation

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Most youth grew up in MN (76%)

42% of youth were found outside the metro

15% of youth identified themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or were unsure about their sexual orientation; 2% identified as transgender

29% of youth are parents (for female youth 39%); 21% have their children with them

37% of youth had been held for more than a week in a correctional facility

Other characteristics

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31% of youth employed

8% employed full-time

Barriers youth identified to getting a job:

– Transportation (29%), Job experience/job history (18%), personal reasons (17%), a lack of housing (16%)

– Lack of employment opportunities or a lack of resources needed to work (13% each)

– Criminal history (12%), education (10%), mental health issues (10%), and a lack of child care (10%)

Employment

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95% of minors (17 and under) and 63% of young adults (18-21) were enrolled in school

69% of minors attended on the day of the survey

The top reasons homeless youth listed for not attending school include no permanent address (34%) and not being interested or motivated (27%). 

42% had an IEP or special ed plan while in school

Education and school attendance

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58% of 19-21 year olds had completed high school or received their GED

10% of all homeless adults (18 and older) had completed a 2 or 4 year college degree

About 7% of all homeless adults (18 and older) were enrolled in higher education. Of these:

– 78% were in 2 year college programs

– 21% were in 4 year college programs

– 1% were in graduate programs

Higher education (youth and adults)

Some improvement among groups targeted for solutions

– Single long-term homeless adults

– Veterans

Children are able to get to and stay in school

Solutions address systems, not just individuals

What gives us hope?

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To learn more about homelessness in Minnesota go to

www.wilderresearch.org or contact:

michelle.gerrard@wilder.org