The Governor's Statewide Interagency Council on Homelessness

Federal Definition of Homeless[1]

(a) In general

The term ``homeless'' or ``homeless individual or homeless person'' includes -

(1) an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence
(2) an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is--

(A) a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill);
(B) an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or
(C) a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

(b) Income eligibility

(1)   In general a homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under any program provided by this chapter, only if the individual complies with the income eligibility requirements otherwise applicable to such program.

(c) Exclusion the term ``homeless'' or ``homeless individual'' does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of the Congress or a State law.

Chronic Homelessness

A "chronically homeless" person is defined as "an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition who has either been continuously homeless for a year or more, or has had at least four episodes of homelessness in the past three years. "[2]  This group represents 10% of the homeless population and consumes 50% of the resources supporting the homeless.[3]

Poverty

According to thresholds established by the United States Census for 2004 dollars poverty for a family of four with two children is $19,157[4].  The national average for people living in poverty is 11.7%.  14.6% of the population of Alabama lives in poverty which is approximately 763,000 people.[5]

Housing First

A Housing First approach to homelessness differs from the traditional shelter-based response of homelessness by focusing on the root causes of homelessness rather a reactionary response.  A Housing First approach attempts to 1) prevent homelessness when possible and 2) provide permanent supportive housing to those who are homeless.  A Housing First approach bypasses the traditional shelter-based model and moves a person who is homeless directly to permanent supportive housing.[6]

Permanent Supportive Housing

Permanent Supportive Housing can take many forms but generally it is affordable housing for those with low incomes, has no time limits, and offers support services integrated into the housing.  Advocates for Permanent Supportive Housing claim that it is a cost-effective approach to homelessness, especially chronic homelessness, which provides stability for families and individuals while allowing agencies the ability to customize services around the varied causes of homelessness.[7]