POINT-IN-TIME SURVEY

BELL COUNTY REPORT
Sample Site in TX District 31
Report by Eric Samuels and Kraig Fiero of the Texas Homeless Network
DEMOGRAPHICS
 The median age of
respondents is 49.
 The gender breakdown
is 76% male and 23%
female
 Most respondents reported race as White (50%)
 African-Americans are
over-represented in this
survey (38%) as compared
to the overall population
20.5% (U.S. Census Bureau)
 The majority of respondents are single, 14%
were one and two parent
families with children.
 Eighty-one children
were identified in the survey with an median age of
5.
 Veterans made up
65% of the sample.
 28% were Veterans of
Vietnam, 14% of Kuwait
(Desert Storm) and 7% of
Iraq.
 Veterans average
length of service was four
years.
Inside this issue:
Homeless Population
Estimates
2
Length of Homelessness
2
Reasons for Homelessness
3
Employment and Income 3
Treatments and Institutions
4
Housing Needs
5
POINT-IN-TIME SURVEY
The Texas Homeless Network annually coordinates a Point-in-Time homeless survey during the last week in January for communities in the Texas Balance
of State Continuum of Care. The “known location” methodology is used with volunteers surveying everyone found at sites identified by the community where
persons suffering from homelessness are known to congregate. The resulting
survey sample is represented by people in homeless situations and persons who
are at risk of becoming homeless. The number of survey responses does not represent the total population suffering from homelessness, so estimates are provided in this report. This information is used by local communities in the development of short and long-term strategies to alleviate homelessness.
In the week of January 28,
2010 several volunteers
canvassed Temple and Bell
County, the only community
that full participated in the
survey. Despite the wintry
weather, 275 surveys were
completed, representing
376 people.
Bell county has a total of
286,446 people with
62,613 of those living inside the city limits of Temple and 117,143 in Killeen.
The median family income
is $54,000. However, the overall
poverty rate is
1 3 . 4 %
(American community survey)
and the unemployment
rate
was 7.6% as of
January
2010
(U.S. Bureau of
Labor Statistics).
U n f o r t u na t e ly ,
some of those in
poverty and un-
employed suffer from
homelessness in Bell County. Advocates conduct surveys to ascertain their characteristics and needs to
develop better strategies for
assisting people out of
homelessness.
A survey like this has been
conducted over the past
four years. Each year the
sample size has increased
and the quality of data has
improved.
Communities
gain
im-
portant information through
this initiative such as the
demographic statistics
listed on the left side of this
page and the findings outlined throughout this report.
The chart below illustrates
that the majority of respondents are single (81%)
but a significant percentage
(14%) are heads of families
with children. Members of
these families make up
35% of all people reported
on this survey.
BELL COUNTY
Page 2
HOMELESS POPULATION ESTIMATES
The statistics to the right represent the overall homeless population
estimates for Bell County at a point-in-time level and annually. “Pointin-Time” estimates are representative of the population on any single
day during the year. The annualized estimate is larger because it contains persons who fall into and exit out of homelessness throughout
the year. Some of these people enter and exit homelessness multiple
times annually so one person or family may be duplicated in this estimate. THN uses a conservative homeless population estimate which is
actually lower than the total accounted for in this survey.
Point-in-time homeless
population estimate for
Bell County: 364
(Texas Homeless Network,
2010)
Annualized homeless
population estimate for
Bell County: 615
(Texas Homeless Network,
2010)
WHERE ARE THEY? WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF HOMELESSNESS?
Significant findings on
location and duration
of homelessness:

“We think sometimes
that poverty is only
being hungry, naked
and homeless. The
poverty of being
unwanted, unloved
and uncared for is the
greatest poverty. We
must start in our own
homes to remedy this
kind of poverty.”
Mother Teresa
18% of respondents were living in
Temple and 19% in
Killeen when they became homeless. The
remaining 63% lived in
another Texas city or
outside the state.
 25% of respondents stayed in an
Emergency Shelter.
 55% meet the
HUD definition of
homelessness¹,
all
respondents meet the
definition used by Texas school districts.
 The median length of
homelessness reported by
respondents is 12 months.
 For 50% of respondents,
this is the first time they’ve
experienced homelessness
in the past three years.

However, 16% reported
being homeless 2-3 times in
the past three years and
during that same time period 5% reported being homeless at least four separate
times.
 29% reported being con-
tinuously homelessness for
a year or longer.
 38% reported experiencing another, separate homeless episode within the past
12 months.
¹ §11302. General definition of homeless individual: (a) In general For purposes of this chapter, the term "homeless" or "homeless individual or homeless person" includes- 1. an individual who
lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and 2. an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is – A. a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide
temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill); B. an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals
intended to be institutionalized; or C. a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
2010 Report
WHAT ARE THE REASONS FOR BECOMING AND REMAINING HOMELESS?
Respondents were asked to identify the factors contributing to
homelessness:
The most identified reasons for
becoming homeless are (see
chart):





24% Unemployment
21% Unable to pay rent/
mortgage
14% Physical/Mental Illness
12% Addiction
8% Divorce
The most common factors cited
for remaining homeless were
Unemployment and Inability to
pay rent/mortgage.
EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND INCOME
A set of questions were designed to elicit information about employment and income from
respondents:
 88% of all Bell County residents’ graduate
high school and 85% of respondents report attaining a high school diploma or higher degree
in this sample.

15% did not graduate high school and 6%
of those did not pass 8th grade.
 65% of respondents indicated that they
were able to work and 31% are working (16%
full time).
 Those that work average 31 hours per week
and their median monthly income was $900.
 However, 69% are unemployed and the
median length of unemployment is nineteen
months.
 When asked why they were unemployed
the three most frequently cited reasons were
“No Transportation” (14%), “Mental Health problem” and “Permanent physical disability” (15%).
 When asked where they get income the top
three responses in order were: Unemployment
Benefits, Employer Wages, and SSDI/SSI.
Page 3
BELL COUNTY
Page 4
Treatment received, institutional history and services
Respondents provided information on treatment received, history in institutions
and their service needs:
When asked what they are
receiving treatment for, the
most frequent responses
were:
 27% Mental Illness
 21% Drug Abuse
 21% Alcohol Abuse
 17% Other physical
condition
 13% Have not or do not
receive treatment
 2% HIV/AIDS related
illness
 40% reported having
“We have
come
dangerously
close to
accepting the
homeless
situation as a
problem that
we just can`t
solve.” Aloha
Kishinami
been in Foster Care and
45% in Drug/Alcohol Abuse
Treatment, the most common responses to the ques-
tion about institutional history.
 Prior to entering insti-
tutions, 61% of respondents were homeless while
only 32% of those reported
having shelter upon institutional discharge.
 65% of respondents
had health insurance and
87% were able to get medical care when needed.
 When asked where
they received treatment the
most common source was
VA Benefits.
 74% needed dental
care but only 44% received
it.
 57% of respondents
needed Mental Health Care
and 74% of those stated
that they received it.
When asked what supportive
services respondents needed
the top seven responses
were:
1.
Job Training and Placement
2.
Transportation Assistance
3.
Clothing and/or Food
4.
Food Stamps
5.
Veterans Benefits
6.
Case Management
7.
Life Skills Training
(See chart below for all results to this question)
2010 Report
HOUSING NEEDS
Respondents were asked what type of
housing they needed most:

In 2010, 46% reported needing Affordable housing followed by Transitional Housing (34%) and Emergency
Shelter (19%)
Annual Events
Point in Time Homeless Survey and Count – Last
week in January as part of a Statewide effort.
Special thanks to our Coalition Members
Bell County HELP Center, Our Lady of the Angels Maternity Shelter, BISD Project Heartbeat, Salvation Army, Family Promise, CTCOG Housing Division, Veteran’s Affairs, City of Killeen, City of Temple, United Way
of Central Texas, Central Texas Youth Services,
Central Texas Homeless Alliance, Altrusa International, Central Texas Housing Consortium, HOT Angels
Campfire, Dove Project, Jail Ministries, Families in Crisis, Habitat for Humanity, 4C Headstart, Angels Alliance, Cedar Crest, Belton ISD, Cove House, MHMR,
NAMI, Rose Garden, The Refuge Corporation, Killeen
ISD.
And a very huge Thank You to all of the members of
the community who are working diligently to support
our cause.
The Central Texas Homeless Alliance meets on the 3rd
Wednesday of every other month at 12 noon. It will be held
at the Helping Hands Community Clinic which is located at
2210 Holland Road
Page 5
TEXAS HOMELESS
NETWORK
1713 Fortview Road
Austin, TX 78704
Phone: 512-482-8270
Fax: 512-478-9077
E-mail: Eric@thn.org ;
Kraig@thn.org
Helping those who help the homeless
www.THN.org