Threats of severe temperatures and hunger — that’s what more than 1,200 children, women and men may face again today. Homelessness is a real problem in the Fairfax County-Falls Church community.

These numbers come from an annual Fairfax-Falls Church community survey. This Point-in-Time survey will give you a comprehensive look on the homeless population in our community. Read the 2014 Point-in-Time Count for more details. Other data provided by the National Low Income Housing Coalition’s “Out of Reach 2014” report.

 

People in families accounted for 57 percent of all persons counted.
The majority of people without homes in our community are children and working families.

• Thirty-three percent of all persons who were homeless were children under the age of 18.
• Seventy-eight percent of the adults in homeless families are female.
• Fifty-nine percent of adults in families that were homeless were employed.
• Sixty-two percent of the homeless people in families were in a transitional housing program. Thirty-eight percent were being provided emergency shelter.

 

Single individuals represent 43 percent of the total number of persons counted.
One-hundred and ninety-six adults were chronically homeless individuals.

• Eight percent of the single adults were reported as veterans, compared to nine percent in 2013.
• Seventy-three percent of the homeless individuals were male, the same percentage as in past years.
• Twenty-four percent of single individuals who were homeless were employed, a slight increase from 22 percent in 2013.

 

We are home to the second largest number of people without homes
It might surprise you, but the second largest number of people who are homeless in our region live in the Fairfax-Falls Church community. Only in Washington, D.C., are there more people without homes.

 

Lack of affordable housing is a national concern and it’s the main cause of homelessness in Fairfax County
Low incomes and expensive housing are the main reasons for homelessness in our community. It is impossible to pay for an apartment when earning minimum wage — even if you work 24 hours per day, 7 days a week:

• Monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment is nearly $1,500.
• A family must earn $28.25 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment.
• A family must earn an annual income of $58,760 to afford a two-bedroom apartment.

 

Domestic violence, physical disabilities and poor health are also reasons
The Point-in-Time survey on homelessness says:

• Thirty-three percent of all persons in families were homeless due to domestic violence, an increase from 27 percent in 2013.
• Fifty-five percent of single individuals who were homeless suffered from serious mental illness and/or substance abuse, a slight decrease from 57 percent in 2013, and many had chronic health problems and/or physical disabilities.