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5 days ago
- General
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Homeless numbers hit all-time high in Worcester County with 20% spike over 2024
WORCESTER — The latest homeless numbers are stark in Worcester County. In fact, they're record-breaking. The Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance annual homeless count released on Wednesday, June 4, showed an all-time high of 3,110 people are homeless in the county, a 20% increase over the 2024 count (2,600) and an eye-popping 93% jump over 2023 (1,607). Of the 3,110 homeless, 41% (1,262) are children and 52% (1,629) are Black, African American or African. The report noted another record that was shattered. On average, a household in Worcester County is homeless for more than half a year (213 days). "That's longer than we've ever seen," said Jack Moran, director of research and data analysis at the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance. Longer than the average of 207 days during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Moran, when policies focused on the homeless remaining in shelters to help prevent viral spread. The alliance's 'point in time' homeless count is not exact science. It's a snapshot because the count is taken one day out of the year, this year on Jan. 29. The figures were reported to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The count is reliable, said Leah Bradley, chief executive officer of the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance. However, it doesn't capture every homeless person, she said, because Worcester County is a large land area and it's possible not to count homeless who sleep in cars versus those living in known encampments. There's a lot of data in this year's report, but two numbers stand out as primary reasons for the record-high homeless number. One is the county's rental vacancy rate of 2.9% — around 1% in Worcester — that is below the 5% generally needed to keep rents somewhat affordable, said Bradley. Second, the county's market rate for an apartment is $2,205, according to Zillow figures, double that of a decade ago. A rent that is unaffordable for many in the county, because it takes an annual income of $86,000 to make the monthly payment. However, the county's median renter household income is $51,300, according to the U.S. Census. As Bradley sees it, there's an urgent need to build more affordable housing to fix the homeless crisis. "The lack of housing that's being built, so the supply is not matching the demand right now," she said. "That's the biggest thing, because that creates the high median rent and the low vacancy rate, and those are the two indicators that we know are the causes of homelessness.' When Housing Secretary Edward M. Augustus Jr. was in Worcester last month to tout what the Healey administration is doing to boost supply, he mentioned the Affordable Homes Act, which Healey signed into law last year, that allocated $5.3 billion to boost affordable housing. Zoning changes, streamlined permitting and state subsidies were also cited by Augustus as ways the state is upping housing supply. It won't be easy to meet the demand. Massachusetts needs to build 222,000 new homes by 2035 to fill a statewide supply gap, according to a Housing Advisory Committee formed by Healey's administration. Even if those units are built, there are more than 400,000 families who qualify for affordable housing but can't access it, according to a study by the Massachusetts Area Planning Council and Housing Navigator Massachusetts. More multifamily housing is needed in smaller communities, said Bradley. She also noted the 'not in my backyard' opposition is an impediment to expanding affordable housing supply. Bradley is particularly concerned about the rising number of older people who are homeless. Fifty-one people over 64 are in this year's count, including 32 in shelters and five on the streets. Some are homeless because they can't afford to make repairs so their homes are condemned. Others can't make rent, so they're evicted and live in cars. It's not just Worcester that sees the homeless crisis. Smaller towns are also feeling the impact, a situation Bradley said is 'most concerning.' Sturbridge had 14 homeless individuals without shelter and Webster had eight, according to this year's count. Some are living in parking lots, others in tents, said Bradley. Of the 221 homeless in the county who are 'unsheltered,' according to this year's report, the largest communities dominated the numbers: 120 in Worcester and 56 in Fitchburg. Meanwhile, 53% of renter households in the county spend more than 30% of their income on rent. That's roughly 58,000 households, and the danger is if something unexpected happens, like losing a job, that family could be evicted and become homeless. Eviction numbers in the report show 2,800 new cases filed in the past 12 months. One number that stands out in the report is families with children identified as homeless: a total of 2,368 people, a 19% increase over last year and an alarming 146% spike compared to two years ago (963). Housing advocates say permanent housing with the necessary social supports is needed to break the cycle of homelessness. Bradley stressed that if the focus remains on shelters, the cycle will continue. A data point in this year's report could support that thinking. For the past two years, 24% of the county's homeless residents have found permanent housing. That compares to 43% in 2016. Besides more affordable housing, Bradley said changes to local zoning regulations and streamlined permitting to cut costs for developers will boost housing supply. She cited Austin, the Texas state capital with nearly 1 million residents, as a prime example. Zoning changes in building heights and parking requirements cut rents by 22% in that city, according to Bradley. While Bradley praised Worcester for its inclusionary zoning and housing trust fund to increase housing stock, she said surrounding towns have to do their part. 'If we don't address this, it's going to get worse, We need housing of all types.' When asked where the money will come from to swell the amount of affordable housing, Bradley said local, state and federal governments must pitch in. Funds are coming from other sources, and Bradley noted the Determination of Need Program at UMass Memorial Health. Whenever the hospital system builds a capital project, Bradley said, UMass has to set aside money for community needs. Families who pay 30% to 50% of their incomes for housing and experience a financial crisis have benefited from the UMass program to pay rent, said Bradley. While the state has programs to build more housing, Bradley said, it can't control interest rates and home prices. In the interim, Bradley said, "We need to help people stay in their housing. We need more subsidized housing and prevention programs so people are not leaving their housing." Contact Henry Schwan at Follow him on X: @henrytelegram. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Homeless numbers hit all-time high in Worcester County with 20% spike
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'A backlog of clients': Health official outlines homeless shelter needs for councilors
WORCESTER — Concern about rising homelessness was shared at the City Council meeting on Tuesday following a report that highlighted a continued need for shelters and housing in the city. Dr. Matilde Castiel, the city commissioner of Health and Human Services, referenced the findings of the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance in saying the rate of homelessness has increased across all ages in the past five years, especially among those above the age of 65. Speaking to councilors on Tuesday, she attributed the findings to lack of affordable housing, limited funding and high eviction rates, among other reasons. 'We have a backlog of clients that are in the shelters,' Castiel said. 'We don't have enough shelter beds for the (homeless) population that we have, and we don't have the housing availability. 'Some people may have an apartment and they're paying X amount of dollars and within two months they're going to be evicted because the landlord wants to increase the rent and that creates more homelessness.' Castiel stated that 1,535 people had accessed shelters in the past year, with 90 being of the ages 65 and older, a considerable increase from 2020 and 2021, when it was 42 for each year. With most of the homeless population falling between the ages of 35 and 44, the report stated that the increase is 'significantly higher compared to earlier years like 2020 and 2021.' The report also argued that the homeless population in the city faced racial disparities, noting that the percentages of Black and Hispanic or Latino individuals were higher among the homeless in proportion to the city's demographics. Hispanic and Latino individuals comprised 29% of the homeless population, a number higher than the 24.6% of the rate of that group across the city; Black individuals comprised 17% of the unsheltered population, compared to 13.7% citywide. Among the homeless, 51% were white, a number higher than the 48.9% demographic across the city. In the report, Castiel says that several 'systemic barriers' have exacerbated the homeless rates, stating that shelters are often faced with capacity challenges. As of February, 180 adult shelter beds were available in Worcester year-round; with 260 winter beds. Some shelter residents lack proper documentation, which often prevents them from receiving medical care. Others who struggle with drug addiction suffer relapses when given low levels of methadone doses which are often imposed by the shelters or suffer low-level care due to limited medical staff. Pointing to the high rate of the evictions as another cause for the rising cases of homelessness, Castiel's report underlined that the number of nonpayment evictions in Worcester jumped dramatically from 263 to 471 cases between 2022 and 2023. Castiel also attributed the rates to legislative restrictions included the statewide reduction of the length of traditional shelter stays for families from nine months to six and tighter background checks on all household members 18 years and older. Councilors lamented the findings. District 4 Councilor Luis Ojeda had requested the report in a previous meeting. Alongside Vice Chair Khrystian E. King, he recently spearheaded efforts the creation of a women's shelter in the city. 'We need to continue trying to get ahead of this curve where it seems like we're doing all we can," Ojeda said. 'I want to make sure we try to be as efficient as possible.' Castiel's report also put on the spotlight the winter shelter that social service agency South Middlesex Opportunity Council shelter opened in December at the former Registry of Motor Vehicles at 611 Main St. Castiel said that with 60 beds, the shelter gave access to a roof to 159 people throughout the season. The shelter opened Dec. 2 with $1.4 million in state funds, offering showers, meals and case management. It will run until the end of April. Haxhiaj, who called the report's findings 'sad,' showed concern about the outlook of the homeless upon the closing of the shelter for the season. Haxhiaj also urged the council to declare the rates of homelessness and lack of housing in the city a public health emergency. 'It's important for the public to understand that when we see unhoused folks out in the street, we tend to blame them for their life circumstances,' Haxhiaj said. 'This is a symptom of decades of policies that have neglected affordable housing and folks who are unhoused.' King made a motion for the council to look into a way to expanding the staff of the Department of Health and Human Services after Castiel said that the department only employs three people and has an open position that address issues dealing with the homeless. King also put forth a motion to 'consider identifying funding via an earmark for additional services for this population.' 'We are in the midst of a public health crisis related to public housing, lack of housing,' King said, echoing Haxhiaj. 'Clearly, we need to do more.' Mayor Joseph M. Petty agreed with the previous speakers, adding that the city 'is in an emergency status.' 'The only way to get out of it is more housing and more services,' Petty said. Petty also referenced projects across the city that have targeted the issues with homelessness, such as the construction of tiny houses that have been in the works along Stafford Street for the homeless population. 'We are going in the right direction but hopefully we can move some of these projects faster,' Petty said. Before the meeting was adjourned, Haxhiaj attempted to bring into the agenda a tabled item from 2023, which she and Councilor-at-Large Thu Nguyen had brought forward to ask the city manager to establish an office that would aim to prevent involuntary evictions, among other things. That motion to take the item off the table was denied, as the yes votes of Haxhiaj, King, Ojeda and District 1 Councilor Jennifer Pacillo fell short. The no votes came from Petty, Councilors-at-Large Morris A. Bergman, Donna M. Colorio and Kathleen M. Toomey, District 2 Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson and District 3 Councilor George J. Russell. Nguyen was not present at Tuesday's meeting. This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: 'A backlog of clients': Health official outlines homeless shelter needs for councilors
