Presented by the Homeless Issues Partnership, this presentation was the results from the Point In Time survey conducted in January of 2011 which gathered information from homeless individuals in Corpus Christi.

1. HOMELESS SUMMIT
May 6, 2011

2. Pamela S. Meyer, Ph.D.
Professor of Sociology
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

3. Thanks to all who participated in the
Point-In-Time Survey
City of Corpus Christi
HIP Board
Community Volunteers
TAMUCC students and faculty

4. METHODS
The survey included questions concerning:
1) basic demographic information such as
age, sex, marital status, educational
attainment veteran status and race/ethnicity;
2) history of homelessness;
3) access to health care;
4) disabilities; and
5) services received and needed

5. METHODS
 The survey was
administered to homeless
persons on the street and
in shelters using the
“known locations”
methodology.
 Locations throughout the
Corpus Christi and Nueces
County area where
homeless persons are
known to congregate were
identified.

6. METHODS
 Teams of survey interviewers canvassed each
location on January 25 from 4:30-8:30 p.m. and
surveyed and counted all persons in the area who
identified themselves as homeless.
 One team went to Timmons Ministries from 11:00
a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on January 25 to interview the
homeless who frequent this establishment for
lunch.

7. Valid
INTERVIEW LOCATION
Frequency Percent Percent
On street 25 3.9 3.9
Ark 35 5.4 5.4
Charlie's Place 40 6.2 6.2
Hope House 8 1.2 1.2
Good Samaritan 126 19.5 19.5
Mission 911 10 1.5 1.6
Metro Ministries 93 14.4 14.4
Rainbow/Rustic
Recovery Contacts 28 4.3 4.3
Salvation Army 59 9.1 9.1
Search for Truth 18 2.8 2.8
Victory Home 39 6.0 6.0
Wenholz House 59 9.1 9.1
Women's Shelter 14 2.2 2.2
Robstown/Rev. beck 68 10.5 10.5
Timons/Flour Bluff 23 3.6 3.6
Total 645 99.8 100.0
Missing 1 .2
TOTAL 646 100.0

8. DEMOGRAPHICS: NUMBER
 646 SURVEYS
 of these 220
“counted”
 ADULTS = 611
 CHILDREN= 129*
 TOTAL = 740
 *noted in surveys and 35 from
ARK


9. DEMOGRAPHICS: AGE AND SEX
(N=538 FOR SEX; N= 485 FOR AGE)
 Respondent’s Age
CC Mean: 43.12 years
TX Mean: 43.00 years
 Male: 46.72 years
 Female: 34.52 years

10. DEMOGRAPHICS: RACE/ETHNICITY
(N=477)

11. DEMOGRAPHICS: HISPANIC
(N=415)

12. DEMOGRAPHICS: EDUCATION
(N =402)

13. DEMOGRAPHICS: WHERE BORN
(N=405)
 Majority of
respondents were born
in Texas
 Only 6 were foreign
born

14. DEMOGRAPHICS: MARITAL STATUS
(N=402)

15. DEMOGRAPHICS: FAMILY TYPE
(N=402)

16. DEMOGRAPHICS: VETERANS
(N=401)
 Veterans were 18.20%
of local sample.
• Veterans were 20% of Texas
sample in 2010.
 30% of local veterans
receive veteran’s
benefits.
 The majority served
in Vietnam (47.1%).
• 13.7% served in Desert
Storm (Kuwait)

17. ON PAROLE OR PROBATION?

18. WHERE SLEPT?
(N=428 for last night; N=420 for normally)

19. DIAGNOSED DISABILITY?
 Of the 390 who
answered this
question, 49.7% of the
respondents reported
having a diagnosed
disability
• Mental illness was the
most frequent response
followed by alcohol and
drug abuse

20. REPORTED DIAGNOSED DISABILITIES

21. LENGTH OF HOMELESSNESS

22. LENGTH OF HOMELESSNESS

23. LENGTH OF HOMELESSNESS
(N=402)

24. REASONS FOR BECOMING HOMELESS

25. REASONS FOR REMAINING HOMELESS

26. REASONS FOR BECOMING HOMELESS
BY RESPONDENT’S SEX

27. REASONS FOR BECOMING HOMELESS
BY RESPONDENT’S SEX
 Women are more likely
(than men) to become
homeless due to:
 Domestic violence
 Family/personal illness
 Eviction
 Men are more likely (than
women) to become
homeless due to:
 Incarceration

28. EMPLOYMENT STATUS
(N=407)

29. EMPLOYMENT STATUS
 50.5% of those
surveyed are
employed full-time
(n=55)
 Of those who work
full-time, 58.2%
have regular
employment

30. EMPLOYMENT STATUS
 49.5% of those
surveyed are
employed part-time
(n=54)
 Of those who work
part-time, 50%
have regular
employment

31. SERVICES
(actual number who answered question)

32. SERVICES
(% of those who answered question)

33. MOST NEEDED SERVICES
 When asked what services respondents needed the MOST,
the top answers to the open ended question were:
• HOUSING (N=90)
• JOB PLACEMENT (N=57)
• SOCIAL SECURITY/SSI (N=40)
• DENTAL CARE (N=27)
• TRANSPORTATION (N=18)
• MEDICAL CARE (N=16)
• JOB TRAINING (N=13)

34. CHILDREN
 Children make up 17.4%
of the homeless
count/survey.
 SEX:Male = 56%
 Female = 44%
• 9% receive child support.
• 12.3% receive services
through CPS.

35. CHILDREN: AGE
(N=129)

36. SUMMARY
• Majority are white and non-Hispanic
• Majority are male
• Majority are single (80.2%) but a significant
percentage are families with children (14.6%)
• 39.5% of those surveyed reported having cases of
chronic homelessness (4 or more episodes of
homelessness in last 3 years)
• Permanent housing was the most frequent “need”
reported followed by dental care and job
placement

37. THINK ABOUT IT!
“There are different categories of homelessness.
Some homeless people have mental problems,
some have drinking problems, some just ran out
of luck, and some are dealing with a combination
of issues. You can’t have a one-size-fits-all policy.
You have to have a number of programs focused
on different aspects of the problem.”
-David Snow and Leon Anderson
Down on Their Luck: A Study of Homeless Street
People (1993)

38. MOTHER TERESA NOTES
At the end of life we will not be judged by how
many diplomas we have received, how much
money we have made, how many great things we
have done. We will be judged by 'I was hungry
and you gave me to eat, I was naked and you
clothed me, I was homeless and you took me in.'
Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love.
Naked not only for clothing - but naked for
human dignity and respect. Homeless not only
for want of a room of bricks - but homeless
because of rejection.

39. Thanks for all you do!