North Idaho homeless count rises 5 percent

COEUR d'ALENE — Homelessness in North Idaho increased 5 percent overall from last year according to a state report, but service providers attribute much of that to a better count.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association report states the total number of homeless people in the five northern counties rose from 429 last year to 450 this year. The highest number in the past five years was 522 in 2014.

There were 257 unsheltered homeless people this year — a 35 percent increase from 191 last year — during the "point-in-time" count on Jan. 27. The number of sheltered homeless people decreased 19 percent to 193 this year from 238 a year ago.

"There was just a better count this year," said Jeff Conroy, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul of North Idaho, referring to the overall increase. "We had never done St. Maries and we did better in Bonner County. The (Coeur d'Alene) Tribe was also able to participate this year to help us."

Conroy said while he would of course like to see the number of homeless people in the region go down, he isn't necessarily alarmed by the increased number because other indicators reveal the number is staying flat.

"I don't think homelessness has gone up — we just got a better count," he said. "At the (St. Vincent) HELP Center, we're still seeing about 200 people a day and the dining hall is still serving about 1,200 a month. Those numbers are remaining about the same and we're not seeing a major increase in the number on a day-to-day basis."

Statewide, a total of 2,247 homeless people were counted for the report.

The report is used when applying for funding to help homelessness, but Conroy said that doesn't necessarily mean the funding will be realized.

"At a conference in Oakland last february we were told to do more with less," he said. "Congress is in no hurry to approve a budget."

Conroy said the big local homeless issue remains limited housing.

"We can't fill the funnel fast enough," he said. "There's not enough affordable housing that we can put people in."

On the positive side, Conroy said food is available and nonprofits remain committed to working together to fight homelessness. He said the community's support of the nonprofits has also been phenomenal.

"There's at least two soup kitchens open every night," he said. "All of the nonprofits have collaborated in getting people help."

Conroy said some people may not realize the homeless population is only about 25 percent of what agencies such as St. Vincent serve.

"The other 75 percent are living in poverty and one paycheck away (from being homeless)," he said. "Although the homeless number is always interesting, those living from paycheck to paycheck who are on the verge of losing their homes is far greater. That's the bigger issue."