Homelessness on the rise

homewardThe shrinking job market and increased foreclosures are a double-whammy for Richmonders without a safety net, leaving some no option but to live in a shelter or on the street, many for the first time.

In a January study conducted by the homelessness advocacy group Homeward, there were 1,150 homeless people in the Richmond region on a given day in January. That’s up 7 percent from last year.

Of that number, one third had been laid off; 18% of them in the past year.

“People who were making it stopped making it,” said Kelly King Horne, director of Homeward. “When the paycheck went away, that was it. They didn’t have the resources.”

Many transient workers often earn a living by working in construction, and those jobs have disappeared or the hours have been cut, King Home said.

Thirty-four people owned a home that was foreclosed, causing them to move into a shelter or on the streets, according to the study. Twenty-two were renters and evicted by a landlord who lost the property to foreclosure. That combined figure is about twice the number from January 2008.

Of those homeless, 10 percent more are staying on the streets.

Homeward conducted the study by going out into the region and asking people about their living situation. The organization defines a homeless person as one living in a shelter or a place not meant for habitation.

Most of the homeless have a history of incarceration and mental illness or substance abuse, King Home said, which makes finding work harder.

One positive sign: Richmond has not experienced the impromptu tent cities or RV parks like San Diego or other cities.

“Historically, there have always been some camps in the region, and our surveyors go to them in Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico,” King Home said.  “But we do a good job of connecting families with children to services.”

Aaron Kremer is the BizSense editor. Please send story tips to [email protected].

homewardThe shrinking job market and increased foreclosures are a double-whammy for Richmonders without a safety net, leaving some no option but to live in a shelter or on the street, many for the first time.

In a January study conducted by the homelessness advocacy group Homeward, there were 1,150 homeless people in the Richmond region on a given day in January. That’s up 7 percent from last year.

Of that number, one third had been laid off; 18% of them in the past year.

“People who were making it stopped making it,” said Kelly King Horne, director of Homeward. “When the paycheck went away, that was it. They didn’t have the resources.”

Many transient workers often earn a living by working in construction, and those jobs have disappeared or the hours have been cut, King Home said.

Thirty-four people owned a home that was foreclosed, causing them to move into a shelter or on the streets, according to the study. Twenty-two were renters and evicted by a landlord who lost the property to foreclosure. That combined figure is about twice the number from January 2008.

Of those homeless, 10 percent more are staying on the streets.

Homeward conducted the study by going out into the region and asking people about their living situation. The organization defines a homeless person as one living in a shelter or a place not meant for habitation.

Most of the homeless have a history of incarceration and mental illness or substance abuse, King Home said, which makes finding work harder.

One positive sign: Richmond has not experienced the impromptu tent cities or RV parks like San Diego or other cities.

“Historically, there have always been some camps in the region, and our surveyors go to them in Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico,” King Home said.  “But we do a good job of connecting families with children to services.”

Aaron Kremer is the BizSense editor. Please send story tips to [email protected].

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