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GIRARD —
A young woman of prime working age, possibly pregnant and possibly with a child or children, is the face of homelessness in the region.
Homelessness in southeast Kansas doesn’t fit the stereotypical image, and a recent Point in Time Count of homeless people seeks to redefine the image with statistics.
“We are hoping that we can provide the population of southeast Kansas with a new image of what a person who is homeless looks like,” said Becky Gray, Director of Research for the Point in Time Count.
“That is the population, that if we value our future as a society, we should be protecting,” Gray said.
The survey worked to identify those who were without a home to call their own on the night of January 23. Preliminary results also show an increase in the number of homeless individuals in the region in comparison to previous years.
“In the seven counties, we were able to survey over 200 people who were homeless,” Gray said, adding that this includes counts from Allen, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Montgomery and Neosho counties.
Individuals were interviewed at shelters or other locations that offered assistance services, as well as by volunteers, law enforcement, hospital officials and others.
Gray said 60 percent of homeless individuals surveyed were women, and of that number almost 30 percent reported they were pregnant.
Almost half, or 44 percent of respondents were in the prime working age group of 18-34 years old.
More than one out of every three homeless individuals, or 36 percent, were children.
Crawford County had the most homeless people, or 99 accounted for on Jan. 23, and that was followed by Labette and Montgomery counties, which also have larger population centers.
Gray said almost one quarter of those interviewed were employed and worked an average of 24 hours a week. Another 25 percent said loss of employment led to their homelessness.
The top three reported contributing factors for homelessness were loss of employment, a lack of affordable housing and a tie for third between eviction and medical expenses.
When people find themselves homeless in rural America, Gray said they often react differently than in larger cities.
“Largely in rural America they double up,” Gray said.
She said the top three places people reported they were staying were shelters, with family or with friends, but others stayed in their vehicles, at campsites, in hotels or other places.
Gray said the data is provided to the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The numbers also will inform local discussion and will help to guide SEK-CAP and other organizations to figure how best to target their resources and efforts.
“We’re focusing now on strategic planning based on the data we’ve collected,” Gray said.
A young woman of prime working age, possibly pregnant and possibly with a child or children, is the face of homelessness in the region.
Homelessness in southeast Kansas doesn’t fit the stereotypical image, and a recent Point in Time Count of homeless people seeks to redefine the image with statistics.
“We are hoping that we can provide the population of southeast Kansas with a new image of what a person who is homeless looks like,” said Becky Gray, Director of Research for the Point in Time Count.
“That is the population, that if we value our future as a society, we should be protecting,” Gray said.
The survey worked to identify those who were without a home to call their own on the night of January 23. Preliminary results also show an increase in the number of homeless individuals in the region in comparison to previous years.
“In the seven counties, we were able to survey over 200 people who were homeless,” Gray said, adding that this includes counts from Allen, Bourbon, Cherokee, Crawford, Labette, Montgomery and Neosho counties.
Individuals were interviewed at shelters or other locations that offered assistance services, as well as by volunteers, law enforcement, hospital officials and others.
Gray said 60 percent of homeless individuals surveyed were women, and of that number almost 30 percent reported they were pregnant.
Almost half, or 44 percent of respondents were in the prime working age group of 18-34 years old.
More than one out of every three homeless individuals, or 36 percent, were children.
Crawford County had the most homeless people, or 99 accounted for on Jan. 23, and that was followed by Labette and Montgomery counties, which also have larger population centers.
Gray said almost one quarter of those interviewed were employed and worked an average of 24 hours a week. Another 25 percent said loss of employment led to their homelessness.
The top three reported contributing factors for homelessness were loss of employment, a lack of affordable housing and a tie for third between eviction and medical expenses.
When people find themselves homeless in rural America, Gray said they often react differently than in larger cities.
“Largely in rural America they double up,” Gray said.
She said the top three places people reported they were staying were shelters, with family or with friends, but others stayed in their vehicles, at campsites, in hotels or other places.
Gray said the data is provided to the Kansas Statewide Homeless Coalition and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The numbers also will inform local discussion and will help to guide SEK-CAP and other organizations to figure how best to target their resources and efforts.
“We’re focusing now on strategic planning based on the data we’ve collected,” Gray said.
