Target Reached

Average Time Homeless (Days)

- All residents are safe, supported and able to care for themselves
Strategic Priorities
  • Not Defined
    7.2 End chronic homelessness for veterans, families and youth
    - All residents are safe, supported and able to care for themselves
About this measure

This page measures the average length of time individuals and persons in families enrolled in emergency shelter and overflow projects experience homelessness. Average length of time is shown in two ways:

  1. One-year average: These counts represent the number of singles and families (actual households) exiting shelter within the reporting year and their average time experiencing homelessness during the reporting year only, and
  2. Three-year average: These counts represent the number of singles and families (actual households) exiting shelter within the reporting year and their average time experiencing homelessness within the prior three years.

Data are reported by the Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services on an annual basis.
Why is this important?

Tracking the average time spent homeless allows the County to evaluate and monitor the performance of the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Continuum of Care (CoC). By looking at patterns and changes to the average time individuals and persons in families spend homeless the COC can revise and enhance strategies to better ensure persons experiencing homelessness in Cuyahoga County get the services they need to achieve self-sufficiency.
How are we making an impact?

The goal of the Continuum of Care Homeless Crisis Response System is to make homelessness: RARE, BRIEF, and NONRECURRING. The  average time homeless data speak to the CoC’s efforts to quickly exit individuals and families from homelessness back to permanent housing. Through rapid rehousing resources, many individuals and families can find a housing unit and exit shelter within a short amount of time. High barrier households with complex needs are further assessed and served within the CoC’s Permanent Supportive Housing Program. The “average” number reflects all persons in shelter, including the long-term and chronically homeless population. This population accounts for the trending increase in shelter stays for the single adult population. Family average time homeless showed a decline.

COVID-19 Efforts:  

Cuyahoga County COVID-19 Continuum of Care Response

  • Reduce Shelter Census
    • Diversion at Coordinated Entry – Gift Cards
    • Vouchers for temporary stays to assist with shelter de-concentration
    • For singles and families currently in shelter: encouraged to relocate to family/friends without interruption in Housing Plan action; relocation plan confirmed by shelter staff; gift cards offered to assist with food costs.
    • Originally negotiated 4 Hotels for shelter de-concentration for single adults. As of December 2020, reduced to 3 Hotel Sites for Single Adults with one site dedicated to COVID Isolation & Quarantine. In addition, acquired 1 site for single women and another Hotel site for Seasonal Shelter to serve the Unsheltered Population.  Collectively, these efforts provided the following:
      • 168 Rooms, single men, vulnerable populations (143 people)
      • 64 Rooms, single men, vulnerable populations (76 people)
      • 60 Rooms, single women, vulnerable populations (80 women)
      • 60 Rooms, single men/ Seasonal Shelter for unsheltered population (61 people)
      • Capacity up to 56 rooms based on need, single men/women, vulnerable women (5 people)
      • 40 – 50 Single Veterans placed in Hotels with SSVF funds 

Impact

  • 400 bed Men’s Shelter Census currently at 140 census; reduction of 65%
  • 190 bed Women’s Shelter currently at 110 census: reduction of 58%            
  • Reducing concentration enables congregate shelters to create “social distancing” for those at the shelter.           
  • Family Shelters: operating below capacity           
  • Family Overflow: not used since last week of March
Additional Resources
Performance Target

1 - Year Average Time Homeless - Individuals (Annual): 86 days

1 - Year Average Time Homeless - Persons in Families (Annual): 60 days
1-Year Average Time Homeless - Annual Performance
Cuyahoga County 1-Year Average Time Homeless in Days (by Year)
Bar chart with 2 data series.
Bar chart shows the 1-year average number of days individuals and persons in families spent homeless in Cuyahoga County by calendar year. See data table for details.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Range: 0 to 150.
End of interactive chart.
3-Year Average Time Homeless - Annual Performance
Cuyahoga County 3-Year Average Time Homeless in Days (by Year)
Bar chart with 2 data series.
Bar chart shows the 3-year average number of days individuals and persons in families spent homeless in Cuyahoga County over a three-year period. See data table for details.
The chart has 1 X axis displaying categories.
The chart has 1 Y axis displaying values. Range: 0 to 150.
End of interactive chart.
Data Source

Cuyahoga County Office of Homeless Services

In June, the Office of Homeless Services transitioned to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's new HMIS system.  As a result, 3-year averages for days homeless for individuals and families are currently unavailable as the team works to rebuild custom reports in the new system.  
Measure Data
Last Calculated 2 days ago
Period Status Days Homeless (1-Year Avg) - Individuals Days Homeless (1-Year Avg) - Individuals - Target Days Homeless (3-Year Avg) - Individuals Days Homeless (1-Year Avg) - Families Days Homeless (1-Year Avg) - Families - Target Days Homeless (3-Year Avg) - Families
2015 Not Defined 63 89
2016 Not Defined 102 53
2017 Not Defined 89 108 63 49
2018 Not Defined 79 100 77 59
2019 Making Progress Toward Target 89 86 112 63 60 43
2020 Target Reached 110 86 43 60
2021 Not Defined 86 60