Rapid Jump in Homeless People Due to Foreclosures and Unemployment

April 24th, 2009 | Tags: Foreclosure

The Washington region has seen a rapid jump in homeless people. The spike has been by 15% mainly due to foreclosures coupled with unemployment.

In its 9th annul count of the homeless numbers in the area, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments noted that there were 5,263 families inclusive of the children who were homeless as on 30th January 2009. Last year during this time the number was 4,566. The officials blamed the worsening and deepening recession for making people lose their homes and jobs. They have no other alternative but to survive in transit camps, with friends, cars or shelters. Tent towns too have sprung up.This year saw the biggest increase in years. Previously there had been a downward trend. The final report will be deposited by the council in the following month.

David Robertson of the council (executive director) said, “It’s really a one-two punch. This is still an expensive area to live, and I think the numbers reflect that. But the results are also the beginning wave of people losing their homes because of foreclosures, whether they are renters or owners.”

The increase of homeless people across the country was modest. The number of single homeless people showed a positive decline. There were 12,000 homeless – a modest increase of 2.2% since the previous year. The number of single persons who were homeless went down from 7,816 to 6,749.

In Arlington County there was an increase of 24 % with the number going up to 511 from 410. It was the highest in the region. In Prince William there was a spike of 14.5% with numbers rising to 630 from 550. There were modest increases in the counties of Montgomery and Fredrick. Good news of decreases came from the counties of Alexandria, Prince George, Fairfax and Loudoun.

The survey was intense with figures being collected from tent villages, shelter, soup kitchens and transitional housing points. Many opined that the numbers were not accurate as it did not take into count those who were refused shelter because of lack of vacancy. Many were not present on the day of counting. It seems that in reality the number would be higher than what has been reported.

Washington officials say they have been able to take people off the streets. This has not been measured. Laura Zeilinger of D.C. Department of Human Service said that the number of street dwellers fell by 15% in January 2009 from what it was in January 2009.

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