December 20, 2006

SUMMARY

To assess the status of hunger and homelessness in America’s cities during 2006, The U.S. Conference of Mayors surveyed 23 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; and 5) the outlook for the future and the impact of the economy on hunger and homelessness.

Among the findings of the 23-city survey:

• Officials in the survey cities estimate that during the past year requests for emergency food assistance increased by an average of 7 percent, with 74 percent of the cities registering an increase. Requests for food assistance by families with children increased by an average of 5 percent. Requests for emergency food assistance by elderly persons increased by an average of 18 percent during the last year, with 74 percent of the cities reporting an increase.

• On average, 23 percent of the requests for emergency food assistance are estimated to have gone unmet during the last year. For families alone, 18 percent of the requests for assistance are estimated to have gone unmet. In 26 percent of the cities, emergency food assistance facilities may have to turn away people in need due to lack of resources.

• Forty-eight percent of the people requesting emergency food assistance were members of families - 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 13 percent during the last year in the cities registering an increase. Fifty-three percent of the survey cities reported that emergency food assistance facilities are able to provide an adequate quantity of food. Sixty-three 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, 52 percent have had to increase the limit of food provided. Ninety-five percent of the survey cities reported that the food provided is nutritionally balanced.

• In 100 percent of the cities, families and individuals relied on emergency food assistance facilities both in emergencies and as a steady source of food over long periods of time.

• Unemployment and other employment-related problems lead the list of causes of hunger identified by the city officials. Other causes cited, in order of frequency, include high housing costs, poverty or lack of income, medical or health costs, substance abuse, utility costs, transportation costs, and the lack of education.

• During the past year, requests for emergency shelter increased in the survey cities by an average of 9 percent, with 68 percent of the cities registering an increase. Requests for shelter by homeless families alone increased by 5 percent, with 59 percent of the cities reporting an increase.

• An average of 23 percent of the requests for emergency shelter by homeless people overall and 29 percent of the requests by homeless families alone are estimated to have gone unmet during the last year. In 86 percent of the cities, emergency shelters may have to turn away homeless families due to lack of resources; in 77 percent they may also have to turn away other homeless people.

• People remain homeless an average of eight months in the survey cities. Thirty-two percent of the cities said that the length of time people were homeless increased during the last year.

• In 55 percent of the cities, families may have to break up in order to be sheltered. In 54 percent of the cities families may have to spend their daytime hours outside of the shelter they use at night.

• Mental illness and the lack of needed services lead the list of causes of homelessness identified by city officials. Other causes cited, in order of frequency, include lack of affordable housing, substance abuse and the lack of needed services, low-paying jobs, domestic violence, prisoner re-entry, unemployment, and poverty.

• Officials estimate that, on average, single men comprise 51 percent of the homeless population, families with children 30 percent, single women 17 percent, and unaccompanied youth 2 percent. The homeless population is estimated to be 42 percent African-American, 39 percent white, 13 percent Hispanic, 4 percent Native-American and 2 percent Asian. An average of 16 percent of homeless people is considered mentally ill; 26 percent are substance abusers. Thirteen percent are employed; nine percent are veterans.

• The average percentage of homeless families headed by single parents in the survey cities is 71 percent; and, on average, children represent 24 percent of the entire population in emergency shelters in the cities. Eighty'seven percent of the survey cities say that there was an increase in homeless children in the emergency shelter system.

• Ninety-five percent of the cities have developed plans to end chronic homelessness; twenty-five percent of those cities say that their plans have led to a reduction in the number of people living on the streets. While the outlook seems promising, most cities say it is too early to say what impact their plans will have on ending chronic homelessness especially with regard to cost savings spent on a chronically homeless person.

• Requests for assisted housing by low-income families and individuals increased in 86 percent of the cities during the last year.

Officials in 72 percent of the responding cities expect requests for emergency food assistance to increase during 2007. Ninety-five percent expect that requests for emergency food assistance by families with children will increase during 2007. Officials in 68 percent of the cities expect that requests for emergency shelter will increase next year. Seventy-five percent expect that requests by homeless families will increase.