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SUMMARY

Over a two week period in November 2009, members of PUSH: People United to Stop Homelessness, Food not Bombs St Augustine and private citizen volunteers canvassed St Johns County Florida in a systematic and intensive pilot survey in order to map locations of unsheltered people and derive demographic information on the entire homeless population, both unsheltered and sheltered.

BACKGROUND

PUSH was formed in January 2007 and spent the first year researching and comparing 10 year plans to end homelessness both nationwide and in Florida. Members became deeply involved in building trust within the homeless community and forming alliances with grassroots and formal agencies dealing with homelessness and poverty. It was discovered that St Johns County did not have a 10 year plan to end homelessness and that point in time surveys conducted by the Emergency Services Homeless Coalition, the county lead agency, both in January 2007 and January 2009 did not reflect the true picture of county homelessness for various reasons. PUSH continued to work on the ground and advocate for oversight and leadership from county and city officials for the next year. In June 2009, PUSH presented a program to St Johns County Board of County Commissioners outlining camps and migrant housing in the county as well as grassroots efforts to provide food and transportation to the homeless population. In a follow up meeting with the county in July 2009, it was agreed that an accurate picture of homelessness was needed and PUSH volunteered to lead this effort. The Center for Community Initiatives from University of North Florida volunteered count and survey form design, volunteer training and follow on analysis of the data collected. The United Way of Northeast Florida volunteered assistance in form duplication, relay of data on the sheltered homeless population and assisted in survey work.

PREPARATION

The first step was to examine a topographical map of the county overlaid with a road map. Areas which were unsuitable for outdoor living were eliminated as were areas which lacked the resources necessary for survival. This was followed by a three week period during which all other areas were physically visited and checked for signs of homeless camps. In addition, information regarding the locations of homeless camps was solicited from local law enforcement agencies and the public.

PROCESS

Volunteers underwent training at two separate sessions on October 20 and October 24, 2009. During the training, the count and survey forms were explained by representatives from UNF, and volunteers were instructed in protocol on approaching homeless people in a respectful and prudent manner. Liability forms were explained and committed volunteer information was collected, especially cell phone numbers for field contact. The grid sectioning of the county was explained and each section comprised one book containing topological and road maps with pre-mapped camp locations, count sheets and survey sheets.

Volunteers picked up materials on November 2, 2009 prior to the count beginning on November 4, 2009 and were also assigned areas and partners during the course of the census.

During the survey, outdoor locations were noted and mapped and homeless counted and surveyed if present. Volunteers were equipped with bottled water, hygiene kits, clothing and other needed items as gifts of goodwill. Often locations needed to be revisited to find people at home or to return with additional supplies. Outlying areas were covered first since they were the most time intensive and difficult to access. Static locations were surveyed during the middle of the time period and Hastings/Armstrong areas were left for the end. Volunteers often went out at 5AM to known campsites and labor pools and then returned to known and new campsites at nightfall, often staying in the field until midnight or later. In outlying areas, mail carriers, road crews, convenience store clerks and bus drivers provided anecdotal information on locations. Most static locations were surveyed several times to capture people who did not use the services everyday. Care was taken to ensure that individuals did not complete the survey more than once.

United Way of North Florida was tasked with acquiring sheltered homeless counts of St Gerard’s House, St Augustine Youth Services, Betty Griffin House and Alpha Omega House. Emergency Services Homeless Coalition insisted on doing its own survey/count of their twelve families in transitional housing. Volunteers were allowed free access to St Francis House and surveyed there on two separate days. St Johns County Board of Education supplied number of homeless students in the school system. Note: The number provided by the School Board is higher than the number in this count as they use more inclusive criteria.

The primary mapping person collected all count/survey data so it would be secure and in one place. Safety and privacy of the homeless was the main concern as it was the guarantee provided by the volunteers in exchange for survey cooperation. This was a major factor in maintaining the trust of the homeless.

WHO WE MISSED

There are groups that we know we missed.

• Those living in cars, particularly those with children. This group avoids, as much as possible, being noticed. Anecdotal information suggests that those with children fear, justifiably, that the State would remove their children if aware of their situation.
• By report, there are a large number of people in the Hastings area who live in conditions that meet the definition of homeless, "rooming houses” that lack running water and/or do not meet minimal code requirements for human occupancy. These are private property and members of our team were denied access.
• Seasonal farm workers who had begun arriving in the area as our count ended. Many of these also live in conditions meeting the definition of homeless.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS

Preliminary data analysis reveals the following demographics, not by area:

• Total number of homeless: 600
• Number of homeless veterans: 50
• Number of homeless students in the school system: 181

Note: The number provided by the School Board is higher than the number in this count as they use more inclusive criteria.

UNF Center for Community Initiatives will analyze and publish a final comprehensive report on all collected data which will be included in our final report.

PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS

While some of our initial impressions need to be verified by analysis of the raw data, we have arrived at the following conclusions:

• We had expected to find significantly more homeless people in the county than previous counts. While we did not, we believe that our count is more accurate for the reasons listed here.
• Not having a 24 hour time constraint, we were able to spend more time in one-on-one interactions and were thus able to better differentiate between those who "look homeless" and those who actually are homeless. This also accounts for the high percentage of those who completed surveys.
• Our methodology of having the same people do counts/interviews at the same static locations at varying times and days insured fewer duplicate counts.
• Our process yielded information about where the homeless are not as well as where they are. It also suggests areas where the homeless will be as the population increases.

FURTHER OBSERVATIONS

• Very few of the homeless stated that they live that way by choice.
• The primary reason given for homelessness during the survey was the lack of full-time, decent paying jobs.
• There was a stated lack of truly affordable housing which is exacerbated by the current foreclosure crisis. (The sheer number of those losing their homes and opting to rent is driving up rental prices.)
• While there are transient populations which pass through the county for varying periods of time and at specific times of year, most of the homeless said they were long time residents of the area, including third and fourth generation families. In addition, the transient populations, while highly visible, said they utilized few services.
• Services for the impoverished are centralized in the St. Augustine area, with the exception of the O.U.R Center and Community Resources Center in Hastings, while the homeless population is dispersed throughout the county. Those areas not essential to the tourist industry are lacking in local services provided by local government and agencies.
• Negative attitudes and behaviors toward the homeless seem to be directly correlated to an individual’s apparent net worth. This is especially notable in the Ponte Vedra area where responses to surveyors’ queries ranged from, "We don't allow that around here” to "There ain't no homeless around here, at least not alive.” This attitude may be influenced by local leadership attitudes which range from ignoring the homeless to calling them "creepy and scary.”
• From conversations with the homeless it would appear that there are, among the homeless, a sufficient number of skilled and experienced workers to work on current and planned government construction projects.
• The homeless state they have been excluded from the decision-making and assessment processes which will guide the direction of future funding and programs. This is not only bad social work practice but ignores a valuable resource, as they understand the needs and causes.
• Anecdotal information from the homeless indicates a hesitancy to involve the police when they are victimized. Some stated that they believe the police do not take them seriously and will use the contact as an excuse to arrest them. Some state that law enforcement has been involved in their victimization.
• Some agencies involved in housing various components of the homeless population were not forthcoming with their data, with the notable exceptions of the Betty Griffin House and St. Augustine Youth Services, who supplied count demographics and the St Francis House, which allowed full access to their clients. The Emergency Services Homeless Coalition insisted on surveying their clients, turned in incorrectly filled out count forms and there is clear evidence one employee filled out all the survey forms. Upon later surveys conducted at 7 of the occupied 12 transitional units, all clients told surveyors they had not been personally interviewed for the survey. Data from Alpha Omega House, St. Gerard House has not yet been received by the time of this report. Hogan’s Harvest reported no clients on 11/20/09

RECOMMENDATIONS

Our volunteers tested a new simplified survey form developed by the UNF Center for Community Initiatives for the official point-in-time count in January. Recommendations for improving the form will be provided to the Center.

     Future Survey Efforts

• A large number of trained volunteers would be needed to conduct this same survey in a twenty-four hour period.
• Pre-mapped county data is imperative to streamline accurate and timely survey efforts.
• Agencies, except those required to maintain confidentiality for safety/legal reasons, should not survey their own clients to minimize interviewer bias.
• Location or contact information about sheltered and unsheltered families with children in the school system needs to be made available to survey team.

     Immediate and Short Term Needs

• Well publicized outreach events in different parts of the county with medical, dental, ID, Medicaid, food stamp, SSI, VA application assistance and clothing and food distribution. This is otherwise known as a Homeless Connect.
• Hot food mobile kitchen to reach outlying areas of the county on a weekly basis.
• Police sensitivity and crisis intervention training.
• Promote greater voice and inclusiveness of homeless people in decision making processes.
• Streamline and shorten length of time for services.
• Audit every agency receiving tax payer dollars for efficient delivery of services.
• Provide regular ongoing oversight of all agencies receiving tax payer dollars and insist on accountability.
• Identify leadership of faith based community and coordinate the multiple services to provide consistent and widespread support to the homeless population.
• Promote Family Promise or similar faith based programs to house people in large churches with smaller churches offering peripheral support like meals, transportation, and child care.
• Focus financial resources on multiple centralized full service drop-in centers in southwest and northern areas of the county with temporary shelter leading directly to affordable housing with wrap around services.
• Employment assistance and job training.
• Adopt the Housing First model promoted by the US Interagency Council on Homelessness.
• The county government needs to take the lead on this issue as this is a county wide problem. While homeless tend to stay near resources like towns, the constant focus on St Augustine’s chronic homeless ignores the very diverse homeless issue countywide and actually exacerbates the city’s problems.

     Long Term Needs

While there will always be a small percentage of the population that will not be able to adequately provide for themselves without social uplift programs, including the elderly, the disabled and those who have been denied opportunities, the long-term solutions are:

• The creation of permanent, well-paid, full-time jobs in all areas of the county. This is, unfortunately, not the kind of jobs that will be created by local governments' current efforts to promote tourism in small specific areas of the county.
• Addressing on a national and state level the causes of homelessness:
• Aging out of foster care without adequate life skills.
• Lack of transitional training back into civilian life for members of the military.
• Transitional programs for those being released from jails and prisons.
• Lack of adequate treatment programs for those with mental health and substance problems.
• Lack of support services for those with limited financial resources.