Census shows Clark County’s homeless population declining

The number of people living on the streets in Clark County dropped by 22 percent in the past two years, according to the 2013 Southern Nevada Homeless Census and Survey released Thursday afternoon.

The count, which took place over a two-day period in January, found that the number of homeless people had decreased to 7,355 from 9,432 in 2011. Between 2009 and 2011, the homeless population dipped by 29 percent, from 13,338 in 2009 to 9,432.

The homeless count is conducted every two years by the Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition.

“We are doing a good job, but we still have a big job ahead of us,” said Michele Fuller-Hallauer, the coalition’s continuum of care coordinator.

Members of the coalition said they expected the decline and believe the count is accurate.

Guidelines from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development were followed by January census takers.

Assemblyman Tyrone Thompson, D-North Las Vegas, the regional initiatives coordinator for the coalition, said the volunteers were trained before the census.

They also used guides who were themselves homeless to direct volunteers to areas where the homeless congregate.

People staying in shelters and on the streets, including the “hidden” homeless — those whose relatives might let them park their RVs in their backyards — were counted, Thompson said. People staying in short-term housing, such as hotels, were not.

“I think that we put our best effort forth. We definitely followed guidelines,” Thompson said. “We feel that this is the best possible count with the volunteer power that we have.”

Some members with community organizations that help serve the homeless were taken aback by the decline.

“I was surprised that the number had gone down because of the great ... increase in intakes that our agency has seen in the last 12 months,” said Marlene Richter, executive director for the Shade Tree shelter, which serves women and children in crisis.

Still, she believes the coalition’s methodology for the count has improved.

The lengthy report, with more than 100 pages, included some staggering statistics — one of which hits home for Richter’s organization.

During the past two years, there was a 17 percent increase in the number of people who were homeless because of domestic violence.

This year’s census count found 777 homeless people who were victims of domestic violence.

“We knew that the numbers had gone up for us,” Richter said. “Seventeen percent is a really sad number for our community. It would be great if we can find a way to prevent domestic violence instead of having that statistic.”

The number of homeless people who have been diagnosed with AIDS or who have tested positive for HIV is up by more than 60 percent, according to the report.

That population has increased to 71 from 44 in 2011.

But the overall decrease in the homeless population is attributed to programs enacted by community organizations that help people get into shelters, transitional housing and eventually into permanent housing, coalition members said.

Conducting the census is required for obtaining federal funding to support homeless programs.

Thompson said Southern Nevada received close to $6.5 million last year that was used to provide permanent housing opportunities.

For example, more than 500 homeless veterans have moved into permanent housing over the past two years, he said.

Contact Yesenia Amaro at yamaro@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0440.