1. Trends in Chronic Homelessness among Single Adults in Hennepin County
2016 MCH Annual Conference, October 11, Mayo Civic Center
Adapted in part from a Humphrey School of Public Affairs Capstone Project, Spring 2016, “Analyzing chronic homelessness in Hennepin County” by Candice Cheng, James Chege, Tian Qiu, Adam Wahlberg and Capstone Advisor: Dr. Maria Hanratty

3. How is Chronic Homelessness Defined?
Chronic Homelessness= disability and…
Continuous Homelessness: A person has spent at least one night in shelter for each of the past 12 months. OR
Episodic Homelessness: A person had four episodes of homelessness in the past three years, with months adding up to 12
Old definition did not require 4 episodes to equal 12 or more months

4. “Although chronic homelessness represents a small portion of the overall homeless population…this population consumes more than half of services.”
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

5. Homeless Population, Hennepin County, 2004-14
(New federal definition of chronic homelessness, 30 days episode gap)
11,346
10,229
7,858
5,430
5,294

6. Chronic Homeless Population, Hennepin County, 2004-14
(New federal definition of chronic homelessness, 30 days episode gap)
Continuous & Episodic
Episodic Only
Continuous Only

8. We Applied The Old Federal Definition
65% reduction
New Federal Definition

9. Number of Homeless Episodes in Three-Year Time Interval (30 day episode gap)

10. Length of Longest Spell (days)

11. Demographics

12. Demographics: By Age
2012 to 2014

13. Demographics: By Gender
2012 to 2014

14. Demographics: By Race
2012 to 2014

15. Demographics: Education Level
2012 to 2014

17. Health Service Use

18. “Approximately 30 percent of the chronically homeless population has a serious mental illness.”
Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy

19. Mental Health Inpatient
2012 to 2014

20. Mental Health Outpatient
2012 to 2014

21. “…around two-thirds [of the chronically homeless population] have a primary substance use disorder or other chronic health condition that create major difficulties in accessing and maintaining stable, affordable, and appropriate housing.”
Source: Office of National Drug Control Policy

22. Emergency Room
2012 to 2014

23. Chemical Dependency- Inpatient
2012 to 2014

24. Chemical Dependency- Outpatient
2012 to 2014

25. Prison & Detentions

26. Number of prisoners released from prison in the United States: 150,000 in 1972
“Many individuals leaving the criminal justice system are unable to obtain access to housing and as many as 45 percent return to homelessness.”
Sources: U.S. Department of Justice and Office of National Drug Control Policy

27. Prison
2012 to 2014

28. Detention (incarceration excepting prison)
2012 to 2014

29. Policy Recommendations from Capstone
Target the needs of chronic homeless by episodic and continuous homelessness sub- populations.
Target shelter users who consume highest percentage of services:
Those who use detention.
Those who use mental health & emergency services.
Emphasize broad primary stakeholder collaboration between Hennepin County and incarceration and mental health systems.
Follow up research on pattern of service use based on different definitions.
Continued exploration of data using sensitivity analysis.

30. Next Steps in Hennepin County
New cohort of chronically homeless single adults identified
meets definition with shelter use
649 met that definition – 571 matched to county data systems

31. Demographics Disproportionately age 45-64, 78% male
40 were age 18-24, 16 were over age 65 – small numbers but concerning
People of color – 55 percent African American, 6 percent Native

32. Use of income supports
Most received some kind of income support

33. Involvement with Criminal Justice
More than half had at least one booking in Hennepin County jail

34. Use of Health Care 80% had an emergency department visit
Half of the visits were for Mental Illness or Substance Use
Almost one quarter had an inpatient hospital stay
Most inpatient hospitalizations were for mental illness or substance use