Cuyahoga County Homeless Population

- All residents are safe, supported and able to care for themselves
Strategic Priorities
  • 7.2 End chronic homelessness for veterans, families and youth
    - All residents are safe, supported and able to care for themselves
About this measure

Cuyahoga County uses its annual Point-in-Time (PIT) count to measure the County’s homeless population. The PIT count identifies the total number of sheltered and unsheltered homeless persons on a single night in January each year. PIT count data for Cuyahoga County is reported by the Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services. 2017 PIT count homeless estimates for similar communities is reported by the National Homeless Information Project. Communities vary on availability of resources, housing markets and community organization which can impact the homeless population.

Why is this important?

With a goal to reach functional zero, meaning the average capacity of our shelter system can meet the existing need, it is critical that we understand the number of individuals and persons in families experiencing homelessness in Cuyahoga County. By tracking the number of homeless individuals and families annually, we can determine if strategies implemented by the Cleveland/Cuyahoga Continuum of Care (CoC) are effective in reducing the number of persons experiencing homelessness.

  

How are we making an impact?

The CoC is a dynamic force engaged in efforts to reduce and prevent homelessness, ensure delivery of comprehensive, high-quality services to persons who are homeless, and create permanent housing opportunities for very low income and long-term homeless persons. From 2016 to 2017 the CoC added 120 new Permanent Supportive Housing units and provided Rapid Rehousing Assistance to 374 families, 910 individuals, and 282 youth. As a result of the CoC’s efforts to plan, organize and deliver housing and services to prevent homelessness, assist people while they are homeless, and support those who move into stable housing and achieve self-sufficiency, the number of chronically homeless persons in Cuyahoga County has declined by 83% since 2009. The unduplicated single adult population is declining due to diversion efforts at Coordinated Intake. The increase in families seeking shelter may reflect that short-term rental assistance is only accessible through a shelter stay. This may draw unstably housed families to the shelter system to access housing resources. Future priorities of the CoC include:


1. The addition of 62 new Permanent Supportive Housing units in 2018 and another 66 in 2019.
2. Development of a comprehensive plan to end youth homelessness.
3. Managing efforts to continue the County’s progress toward ending veteran homelessness.

Reporting Agency

Cuyahoga County Division of Homeless Services

Homeless Population - Comparative Analysis
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Homeless Population (2018 PIT County Data)

Long description.

Bar chart shows the point-in-time count for comparative counties. Cuyahoga: 1,808 Allegheny: 783 Franklin: 1,807 Montgomery: 680 Hillsborough: 1,795 Hamilton: 1,114 Lucas: 662 Marion: 1,682 Summit: 587

Structure.

Chart type: column chart.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values.

Chart graphic.

Homeless Population (2018 PIT County Data)Created with Highcharts 5.0.12Homeless Population (2018 PIT County Data)Cuyahoga 1 808Cuyahoga 1 808Allegheny 783Allegheny 783Franklin 1 807Franklin 1 807Montgomery 680Montgomery 680Hillsborough 1 795Hillsborough 1 795Hamilton 1 114Hamilton 1 114Lucas 662Lucas 662Marion 1 682Marion 1 682Summit 587Summit 587Chart context menu2018
Homeless Population - Historical Performance
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Cuyahoga County Homeless Population (By Year)

Long description.

Bar chart shows the homeless individuals and persons in families in Cuyahoga County by year. See Data Table for details

Structure.

Chart type: Combination chart.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values.

Chart graphic.

Cuyahoga County Homeless Population (By Year)Created with Highcharts 5.0.12Cuyahoga County Homeless Population (By Year)1,5501,5501,3601,3601,3601,3601,3771,3773933933373373673674314311,9431,9431,6971,6971,7271,7271,8081,808Homeless Population (Individuals)Homeless Population (Persons in Families)Homeless Population (Total)Chart context menu2015201620172018
Data Source

Cuyahoga County: Office of Homeless Services

Comparative Analysis: National Homeless Information Project PIT County Homeless Estimates

Measure Data
Period Status Homeless Population (Individuals) Homeless Population (Persons in Families) Homeless Population (Total)
2016 Not Defined 1,360 337 1,697
2017 Not Defined 1,360 367 1,727
2018 Community Indicator 1,377 431 1,808
2019 Not Defined