Source: SFY Bureau of Homeless and Housing Services Activities Service Summary
STRAFFORD COUNTY COMMUNITY NEEDS
HOMELESSNESS AND HOUSING
Shelter providers in Strafford County have experienced an increase in assistance to families with children in the past several years. It can take only a single precipitating event -- auto breakdown, illness -- to thrust a family into homelessness. Unable to secure affordable housing, unable to reestablish themselves on limited incomes, hundreds of Strafford County residents have found themselves in emergency situations.
Increasingly represented among the homeless are the physically disabled, the chemically addicted, and the mentally disabled. Of 5,209 persons sheltered statewide with State funding in 2008, there were:
In FY 7/1/2006 - 6/30/2007, My Friend's Place provided emergency
shelter for 273 individuals who stayed at the shelter for an
average of 18 days. My Friend's Place's 4 transitional housing
units remained full with families moving into permanent housing
and replaced by other homeless families.
The shelter provided 6511 bed nights to 73 single women, 69 single men, and 54 families with 75 children. The families included 30 single parent families and 24 families with both parents present.
Individuals with alcohol problems represented 21% of clients, those with drug problems accounted for 15%. Individuals with mental health issues represented 25% of clients.
Of the 198 adults, 10 were known victims of domestic violence, 9 had served in the military, 4 had physical disabilities, and 2 were developmentally disabled. 18% of the adults were employed full or part time, with 13% working full time.
My Friend's Place turned away 834 individuals because of lack of capacity. This number included 53 families with 448 children.
During the period January 2008 to September 2008, the Strafford County Community Action Committee (SCCAC) Homeless Outreach Intervention Coordinator assisted 241 homeless persons. This number includes 119 single persons and 122 families, to include 78 persons under the age of 18, 78 persons under age 86, and 6 persons over age 65.
The Homeless Shelter of Strafford County (HSSC) housed 84 individuals between October 6, 2008 and May 4, 2009. HSSC is a seasonal private shelter that has six rooms and can hold up to three persons to a room. HSSC turned away 45 individuals because of the lack of capacity or due to budget restraints. Six families that had 4 or more children had to be turned away due to the size of the shelter itself.
The shelter typically operates from mid-October until the end of April. The shelter serves women, children and families at a capacity of 26 residents. The homeless center employs overnight paid staff members and an executive director, but approximately 55 active volunteers take up the bulk of the work.
"POINT IN TIME" SURVEY
How many homeless persons are receiving assistance on a given day in Strafford County?
Although a recent one-day "snapshot" indicates the
state's homeless population is increasing, local officials say
the Seacoast's numbers remain stable.
The survey, conducted by the Department of Health and Human
Services and Office of Homeless, Housing and Transportation
Services, was intended to quantify how many homeless people are
in the state on any given day.
The survey identified 2,539 homeless individuals across the state
on January 28, 2009, up from last
year's total of 1,300.
In Strafford County, 65 individuals were counted. 24 single persons and 27 individuals in 8 families were counted in shelters. 3 single persons were found unsheltered, and 4 families comprising 11 individuals were counted living temporarily doubled-up.
In Portsmouth-Rochester HMFA, the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,011. In order to afford this level of rent and utilities, without paying more than 30% of income on housing, a household must earn $3,370 monthly or $40,440 annually. Assuming a 40-hour work week, 52 weeks per year, this level of income translates into a Housing Wage of $19.44.
In Portsmouth-Rochester HMFA, a minimum wage worker earns an hourly wage of $7.25. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment, a minimum wage earner must work 107 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, a household must include 2.7 minimum wage earner(s) working 40 hours per week year-round in order to make the two bedroom FMR affordable.
In Portsmouth-Rochester HMFA, the estimated mean (average) wage for a renter is $13.95 an hour. In order to afford the FMR for a two-bedroom apartment at this wage, a renter must work 56 hours per week, 52 weeks per year. Or, working 40 hours per week year-round, a household must include 1.4 worker(s) earning the mean renter wage in order to make the two-bedroom FMR affordable.
Source: Out of Reach, National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2009
On average, Strafford County has the highest housing wage of the New Hampshire counties.
Note: Federal minimum wage in 2004 was $5.15 per hour. Hourly wage needed to afford the Fair Market Rent on a modest 2-bedroom unit assumes paying 30% of income on housing and working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year.
Source: America's Rental Housing, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, 2006
Source: 2009 Residental Rental Cost Survey, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority
Source: Out of Reach, National Low Income Housing Coalition, September, 2001
Source: Directory of Assisted Housing, New Hampshire Housing Finance Authority, 2009