The VI Continuum of Care for the Homeless has developed a point in time count of the unsheltered homeless population in the US Virgin Islands. This series of surveys will be conducted over the next few years in an effort to gauge the shifts in the homeless population. On March 10, 2007, the VI Continuum of Care for the Homeless, along with volunteers, from the community conducted its second in this series of point in time surveys.

VI Homeless Population

The initial survey, conducted May 21, 2005, counted a total of 288 homeless individuals throughout the territory, while the second survey canvassed a total of 487individuals, an increase of 69%. The three main islands had similar percentages in both years. St. John increased from 45 counted in 2005 to 87 in 2007, an increase from 16% of total counted territory-wide to 18%; similarly, St. Croix increased from 50 in 2005 to 96 in 2007, an increase from 17% to 20%; and St. Thomas increased in total counted from 193 in 2005 to 304 in 2007. St. Thomas ' percentage of total counted decreased though, from 67% in 2005 to 62% in 2007.

Demographics

The demographics of the survey follow closely along the lines of the demographics of the Virgin Islands with Blacks/African-Americans making up the vast majority of the homeless counted. The Virgin Islands has a population that is 75% – 80% Black, and in 2005, 72% of the counted were Black, while in 2007, 77% were Black. The similarities do not follow along gender lines though, as in 2005, homeless Black Males outnumbered homeless Black Females by almost 4 to 1, while in 2007, that number increased to almost 7 to 1.

Another similarity to the VI population as noted in both surveys is the population of Hispanic homeless. While Hispanics currently make up approximately 10% - 15% of the VI population, in 2005, Hispanics totaled 13% of the homeless counted, and in 2007, that number increased slightly to 14%.

Contributing Factors

Some of the factors that contribute to homelessness that were measured include domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, mental illness and substance abuse. Though both domestic violence and HIV/AIDS are more prevalent in the news, ironically, they are not major contributing factors to homelessness. In 2005, slightly more than 1% of the homeless counted listed HIV/AIDS as a factor, and a little more than 3% listed domestic violence. In 2007, those numbers increased slightly to 2% and 4% respectively.

Substance abuse and mental illness, on the other hand, have been heavy contributing factors to individuals either becoming homeless or remaining homeless. In 2005, 20% of those counted listed mental illness as a contributing factor while 42% listed substance abuse. In 2007, those numbers increased to 30% and 59% respectively.

Veterans

One of our more revered groups has been impacted by the “homelessness craze” as well. Though veterans have an assortment of benefits, including home ownership packages and other housing subsidies, there have been a few veterans who have managed to become homeless. Fortunately, the number of homeless veterans has decreased from 2005 to 2007. In 2005, the number of homeless veterans counted territory-wide was 18, 6% of the homeless counted. Those numbers decreased in 2007 to 13, 3% of the total.

Conclusion

The major conclusion that can be drawn from these numbers is that more homeless people were counted during the point-in-time survey in 2007. This could be because there were more volunteers to count the homeless in 2007 or there are simply more homeless people to be counted. The question is, what are we, as a community, doing about it

People become homeless because of several reasons and/or circumstances. People become homeless because of economic conditions (poverty) which renders them unable to maintain housing and other necessities; or they become homeless because of emergencies or natural disasters; or because of abuse of drugs and alcohol; or because of mental illness or HIV/AID.

The effects of these contributing factors can be diminished by the availability of services within our community to provide for the afflicted. Services such as:

• Health care for the homeless
• Mental health and substance abuse treatment facilities
• Housing for the homeless and chronic homeless population.