North Dakota Coalition
for Homeless People

Facts

WHO IS HOMELESS IN NORTH DAKOTA?
A statewide January 30, 2008 Point-in-Time Survey of 832 Homeless People indicated:

• 2% stayed outside, in cars, in abandoned buildings the night of the survey
• 74% stayed in emergency shelters or transitional supportive housing
• 21% were precariously housed in motels or doubled up with family or friends and at imminent risk of being on the street
• 76% (421) were unaccompanied individuals
• 24% (411) were families, including 363 children under the age of 18
• 51% can not afford rent, even if they have some income
• 45% were unemployed
• 36% had alcohol or drug abuse problems
• 33% had a mental illness

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF HOMELESSNESS?
Typically homelessness is only thought of in terms of financial resources, but there are many factors that can lead to homelessness. Loss of employment, long-term illness, substance abuse, divorce, domestic violence, child abuse, institutional release, and other factors create situations when people cannot afford to pay rent or house payments. Additional causes may be attributed to defects in the system, such as lack of: 1) affordable housing; 2) space in treatment facilities for persons suffering from mental illness of substance abuse; and 3) preventive services to help people remain in their homes.

HOW ARE THESE PROBLEMS BEING ADDRESSED?
Many service providers, government agencies, and faith-based organizations provide services to the homeless in North Dakota. Currently, the agencies play a role in administrating a variety of housing and services that directly benefit homeless people.

Type of housing include, but are not limited to:

• Emergency shelter
• Transitional housing
• Permanent supportive housing

Types of services include, but are not limited to:

• Emergency assistance
• Education and information
• Life skills
• Case management
• Mental health
• Alcohol and drug treatment
• AIDS related treatment
• Employment assistance
• Childcare
• Transportation
• Healthcare

The United States Code contains the official federal definition of homeless. In Title 42, Chapter 119, Subchapter I, homeless is defined as:
§11302. General definition of homeless individual
(a) In general
For purposes of this chapter, the term “homeless” or “homeless individual or homeless person” includes— an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; and an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is — a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill);
an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.
(b) Income eligibility
In general A homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under any program provided by this chapter, only if the individual complies with the income eligibility requirements otherwise applicable to such program. Exception Notwithstanding paragraph (1), a homeless individual shall be eligible for assistance under title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 [29 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.].
(c) Exclusion
For purposes of this chapter, the term “homeless” or “homeless individual” does not include any individual imprisoned or otherwise detained pursuant to an Act of the Congress or a State law.