| Homeless Population |
1989 estimates
5,500 persons
1,500 parents/children
1,000 children |
8,665 3/89 - 2/90
4,292
parents/children
1,399 families
2,741 children |
- Emergency shelters and transitional housing programs in the county were
only able to serve 2,318 homeless people based on a survey in 1990 compares to the
conservative estimate of 8,665 people who were homeless. For every one homeless
person who received shelter or transitional housing services, at least three other
homeless people could not receive these services if they request them.
- 50% of homeless people surveyed said that they needed transitional
housing services.
- 35% of homeless people surveyed said that they needed emergency shelter.
- Service providers reported that they were unable to provide shelter to
77% of homeless clients who requested this kind of help because of budget limitations or
lack of space in existing program
- Service providers reported that 19% of homeless clients were survivors of
domestic violence and San Mateo County Battered Women's Services reported that they could
not provide shelter for 60% of clients who needed it.
- Existence of an estimated 5,500 homeless people in a county which has
fewer than 250 beds in transitional facilities demonstrates a serious need for
transitional housing. 20% to 25% of the adult homeless are employed. In the
Shelter Network's Family Crossroads transitional housing program for families in Daly
City, at any time almost half of the families are employed but do not have financial
resources adequate to remain housed in the county.
- Families in transitional housing are largely minority, rely on public
assistance, are larger than average and need job skills, training, or retaining to earn
enough to support their families and pay for housing.
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