Homeless population jumps

Homelessness in North Idaho is exploding, according to a five-day survey of displaced individuals in the region.

The 2010 Point in Time Count revealed a 40 percent increase in homeless individuals in Kootenai County since last year, as well as a 265 percent jump in chronically homeless.

"It's devastating," said Matt Hutchinson with St. Vincent de Paul, which administered the count for HUD. "When I calculated the data last week, it was way more substantial of a growth than I'd expected."

As of early February this year the county had 712 homeless, up from 439 last year.

The survey did not include homeless individuals who are in shelters, which will be added later by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association.

The reason for the jump almost goes without saying: The struggling economy, compounded by an 11 percent unemployment rate in the county and expensive rent.

Other problems add into the equation, though, Hutchinson said.

These are apparent in other data from the count: 32 percent of homeless individuals in Kootenai County have substance abuse issues, and 23 percent have a mental illness.

On top of that, 20 percent are on probation or parole, and 13 percent are victims of domestic violence.

"They just go hand in hand," Hutchinson said. "We're dealing with severely, chronically mentally ill people who maybe are addressing those illnesses with substance abuse. Then you tie in the probation and parole numbers."

Most shocking, he said, is the nearly 300 percent uptick in chronically homeless - individuals with a disabling condition who are either homeless for a year straight or four times in the last year.

"That's pretty dangerous," Hutchinson said.

He suspects the reported increase in that population is substantial because volunteers taking data were able to access areas they hadn't before, particularly tent encampments.

"There are probably close to 10 to 15 different tent encampments in our area," Hutchinson said.

Most who live in encampments end up there because shelters don't allow people with substance abuse issues, Hutchinson said, which is nearly impossible to get treated in Kootenai County.

"The waiting list for any inpatient rehab in our area is embarrassing," he said. "If I was a severe alcoholic who wanted treatment today, the most common answer would be, 'Well, we might be able to help you in four to six months.'"

When people are denied substance abuse service, he added, they might turn to drinking more heavily, committing crimes or domestic violence.

"I would say that our biggest gap right now is helping people, especially inpatient rehabilitation," Hutchinson said.

People surveyed spanned a variety of destitute situations, he said, including 10 people living in one motel room and a family of six living in an unheated trailer.

Some are turned away from overcrowded shelters, he said. Others try to scrape by with the bare minimum.

This means an added to burden on St. Vincent services, he said, like the HELP Center that saw a 560 percent increase in families seeking assistance over the past year.

"Of course it's hard (meeting the need)," Hutchinson said. "We're a nonprofit. We're funded very similarly to anyone based on donations, so it's really hit or miss."

On Tuesday, Alexandra Olsen and Jose Millan were filling out paperwork at the HELP Center for assistance with health care, hard to cover on their own while they're raising a baby.

They've learned the benefit of community assistance after both went through stints of homelessness, Olsen said.

"When it's warm, it's not as miserable," said Olsen, 21, who lived in her car for a few months when her paycheck failed to cover her rent.

She budgets rigidly to keep from sliding back there, she said.

"Americans in general have a hard time not spending on things they want," she said. "People have things in their budget like cable, Internet. They see it as a need."

Millan, who doesn't live with Olsen, used to live between the St. Vincent shelter and a friend's car, he said. He finally has his own place in Coeur d'Alene after finding a job, but he's barely covering the rent.

"I just have my sleeping bag," he said. "I can't turn on the heat right now."

A PIT Count was also taken for all five northern counties, which found 774 homeless individuals, up 35 percent from 2009.

The PIT Count numbers are still preliminary, Hutchinson said. An official report will be released in late April.

The data helps service providers apply for grants, he said, as well as to simply know what they're up against.

Millan said he's relieved the community has so many entities willing to help.

"When you're going it alone, you want to get help wherever you can," he said.