Chronic Homelessness

Initiative Summary (PDF)

Atlanta is home to approximately 2832 (5902*48%) chronically homeless individuals. By the Office of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) definition that means they have experienced homelessness for more than one year or have had four or more episodes of homelessness in the past three years AND they have a disabling considering that limits their ability to work or perform one or more activities of daily living.

National research suggests that moving chronically homeless people into permanent supportive housing leads to a 60% reduction in healthcare costs in the first year.

Atlanta Homeless Registry

On January 17-18 2013, 190 volunteers participated in an effort to survey homeless individuals sleeping in unsheltered locations and emergency shelters to generate a database with information about homeless individuals’ housing history and health vulnerability factors. The Registry will serve as the primary tool to identify and prioritize chronically homeless individuals for triage and placement in permanent supportive housing programs that meet their needs.

A total of 762 individuals have been interviewed for the Registry. Among this group, the following vulnerability factors were present:

48% had been homeless >1 year or 4+ episodes in past 3 years
44% had mental health challenges
64% had a history of substance abuse
32% had co-occurring mental health and substance abuse challenges
23% were tri-morbid (mental health, substance abuse, and chronic physical illness)

Strategies

Launch coordinated outreach, intake, and assessment process with partner provider organizations
Identify scattered site and congregate opportunities for permanent supportive housing
Align housing inventory with population needs
Coordinate housing and service resources to provide paths for the most vulnerable individuals to exit homelessness

A Partnership Between Mayor Kasim Reed and Community Leaders to Dramatically Reduce Street Homelessness in Atlanta

Chronic