Monitoring Homelessness

Release Date: Wednesday, February 1st 2012

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The number of homeless individuals on Downtown streets rose for the first time in four years last month. The results of a homeless enumeration taken on January 25 show 132 homeless persons were living on Downtown streets at night, more than double the number recorded on January 26, 2011, when the region’s first seasonal snowstorm hit, forcing many people indoors to flee snow-covered streets and blustery conditions. Thus, the number of homeless individuals living on the streets hasn’t been this high since a count of 139 was recorded in January 2008.

“The difference in weather conditions, warmer this year, bitterly cold and a major snow event last year, contributed in part to the increase,” said David Kamperin, the DowntownDC BID’s Director of Public Space Management. On Wednesday, January 25, members of the Downtown BID’s Homeless Services Team, BID staff, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) crisis intervention officers, and other volunteers conducted the Downtown count between 10:00 pm and 2:00 am.

To assess the number of homeless people living on the streets throughout the US, simultaneous enumerations took place across the city and the nation, providing a “Point-in-Time” snapshot of the homeless population. Information is then registered with the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

To more closely monitor the homeless situation in Downtown, however, the BID will begin conducting quarterly homeless counts beginning with the January 2012 enumeration. The Homeless Services Team, which has been working for four years to reduce the number of people living on Downtown streets, will continue to use a pragmatic, street-to-independence outreach program—known as Housing First—to move the chronically homeless into permanent supportive housing.