Unsheltered homelessness, sleeping outside or in places not meant for human habitation like in a car or under a bridge – is dangerous and can even be deadly.
Our community has made great strides to reduce the number of people sleeping unsheltered. But, you’ll agree, we have more work to do. Even one person sleeping outside is too many.
Unsheltered Homelessness in Cincinnati
Prior to 2020 the start of the COVID-19 pandemic
The number of people sleeping unsheltered on the streets of Hamilton County declined steadily from 2013-2019.
The total decline during that time was almost 51%. This is extremely positive. Since a person experiencing homelessness is three times as likely to die sleeping outside. Compared to when safely under-roof in a shelter.
During the same period (2013-2019), the number of people safely sheltered in Hamilton County’s ten emergency shelter facilities had remained steady. Declining by less than 4% (from 7,303 people to 7,028 people).
Read about the Homeless to Homes Plan which dramatically improved our local emergency shelter system. By constructing five new service-enriched facilities with improved access to housing programs.
In 2020
A number of factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed these numbers in 2020.
Unfortunately, some shelters needed to close temporarily in the early days of the pandemic. So that congregate shelter capacity could be converted to hotel/motel capacity. And the need for social distancing and new logistical challenges related to operating congregate shelter facilities all resulted in temporarily reduced shelter capacity.
As a result, people experiencing homelessness had a harder time accessing shelter. Additionally, some people chose to sleep unsheltered due to fear on contracting COVID-19 within a shelter facility.
After six consecutive years of declines, in 2020 the number of people sleeping unsheltered increased by 22% (from 838 people to 1,024 people).
In 2020, the number of people provided with emergency shelter in Hamilton County decreased by 15% (from 7,028 to 6,151).
The national average of unsheltered homelessness is 39% vs. 15% locally. Here’s how the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness is tackling this problem.
Signs of improvement
The 22% increase in people sleeping outside on the streets in 2020 was followed by a 10% decline in unsheltered homelessness in 2021.
This is attributable to emergency shelter operators making changes within their facilities. To better address COVID-19 spread and subsequently returning to full shelter capacity. As well as people being less concerned about contracting COVID-19. Due to acquired immunity, vaccination status and added precautions being taken within facilities.
The rapid 15% decline in the number of people accommodated within homeless shelters from 2019 to 2020 leveled off in 2021. And for similar reasons. The number of people served in shelters declined by <1% from 2020 to 2021.
One missed paycheck. One medical emergency. Many more people are one crisis away from homelessness. We will continue our work to prevent as many people as possible from experiencing the trauma of homelessness.
2022 Data Coming Soon
The Cincinnati/Hamilton County Continuum of Care (OH-500) was one of the first in the country to establish a shared Homeless Management Information System database. Used by all of our local homeless programs. And we act as the lead agency. Giving us immediate access to data to track program outcomes in real time. And improve underperforming programs. All of our partner agencies’ data is stored into this local HMIS.
Soon we will release our collective 2022 data. Click here to view the most recent data available.
