December 17, 2001

To assess the status of hunger and homelessness in America's cities during 2001 The U.S. Conference of Mayors surveyed 27 major cities whose mayors were members of its Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. The survey sought information and estimates from each city on 1) the demand for emergency food assistance and emergency shelter and the capacity of local agencies to meet that demand; 2) the causes of hunger and homelessness and the demographics of the populations experiencing these problems; 3) exemplary programs or efforts in the cities to respond to hunger and homelessness; 4) the availability of affordable housing for low income people; 5) the outlook for the future and the impact of the economy on hunger and homelessness.

Among the findings of the 27-city survey:

Hunger

• Officials in the survey cities estimate that during the past year requests for emergency food assistance increased by an average of 23 percent, with 93 percent of the cities registering an increase. Requests for food assistance by families with children increased by an average of 19 percent. Requests for emergency food assistance by elderly persons increased by an average 18 percent during the last year, with 92 percent of the cities reporting an increase.
• On average, 14 percent of the requests for emergency food assistance are estimated to have gone unmet during the last year. For families alone, 14 percent of the requests for assistance are estimated to have gone unmet. In 33 percent of the cities, emergency food assistance facilities may have to turn away people in need due to lack of resources.
• Fifty-four percent of the people requesting emergency food assistance were members of families Ñ children and their parents. Thirty-seven percent of the adults requesting food assistance were employed.
• The overall level of resources available to emergency food assistance facilities increased by 12 percent during the last year. Thirty-three percent of the survey cities reported that emergency food assistance facilities are able to provide an adequate quantity of food. In 85 percent of the cities emergency food assistance facilities have had to decrease the number of bags of food provided and/or the number of times people can receive food. Of these cities, 33 percent have had to increase the limit on food provided. Fifty-two percent of the survey cities reported that the food provided is nutritionally balanced.
• In 100 percent of the cities, emergency food assistance facilities were relied on by families and individuals both in emergencies and as a steady source of food over long periods of time.
• Low-paying jobs lead the list of causes of hunger identified by the city officials. Other causes cited, in order of frequency, include unemployment and other employment-related problems, high housing costs, changes in the food stamp programs, poverty or lack of income, economic downturn or weakening of the economy, utility costs, welfare reform, medical or health costs, and mental health problems.

Homelessness

• During the past year requests for emergency shelter increased in the survey cities by an average of 13 percent, with 81 percent of the cities registering an increase. Requests for shelter by homeless families alone increased by 22 percent, with 73 percent of the cities reporting an increase.
• An average of 37 percent of the requests for emergency shelter by homeless people overall and 52 percent of the requests by homeless families alone are estimated to have gone unmet during the last year. In 52 percent of the cities, emergency shelters may have to turn away homeless families due to lack of resources; in 44 percent they may also have to turn away other homeless people.
• People remain homeless an average of 6 months in the survey cities. Fifty-four percent of the cities said that the length of time people are homeless increased during the last year.
• Lack of affordable housing leads the list of causes of homelessness identified by the city officials. Other causes cited, in order of frequency, include low paying jobs, substance abuse and the lack of needed services, mental illness and the lack of needed services, domestic violence, unemployment, poverty, prison release, and change and cuts in public assistance programs.
• Officials estimate that, on average, single men comprise 40 percent of the homeless population, families with children 40 percent, single women 14 percent and unaccompanied minors four percent. The homeless population is estimated to be 50 percent African-American, 35 percent white, 12 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Native American and 1 percent Asian. An average of 22 percent of homeless people in the cities are considered mentally ill; 34 percent are substance abusers; 20 percent are employed; and 11 percent are veterans.
• In 52 percent of the cities, families may have to break up in order to be sheltered. In 22 percent of the cities families may have to spend their daytime hours outside of the shelter they use at night.
• Officials in the survey cities report that the Federal Government's Continuum of Care policy has made a difference in their community's effort to address homelessness, and that the increase in HUD funding to address homelessness has resulted in more homeless families and individuals accessing transitional and permanent housing and reaching self- sufficiency in their cities.

Housing

• Requests for assisted housing by low- income families and individuals increased in 86 percent of the cities during the last year. Thirty-eight percent of eligible low income households are currently served by assisted housing programs. City officials estimate that low income households spend an average of 44 percent of their income on housing.
• Applicants must wait an average of 16 months for public housing in the survey cities. The wait for Section 8 Certificates is 20 months, for Section 8 Vouchers, 22 months. Nineteen percent of the cities have stopped accepting applications for at least one assisted housing program due to the excessive length of the waiting list.

The Outlook

• Officials in 100 percent of the responding cities expect requests for emergency food assistance to increase during 2002. One hundred percent expect that requests for emergency food assistance by families with children will increase during 2002. Officials in 100 percent of the cities expect that requests for emergency shelter will increase next year. One hundred percent expect that requests by homeless families will increase.
• The city officials are virtually unanimous in their views about the nation's weak economy and the negative impact hat it will have on the problems of hunger and homelessness. Job loss because of declining tourism, especially after the terrorist attack on September 11, has exacerbated the economic slowdown. Nearly all agree that more people are likely to fall into the ranks of the homeless and hungry during 2002.