Annual Point-In-Time Rely Reveals Lower in Homelessness in Chester County • Chester County, PA

The Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness launched the 2024 Point-In-Time (PIT) count results this week on the County’s State of Housing Affordability and Homelessness occasion.  

The outcomes, offered to greater than 120 companion organizations and stakeholders, revealed that 213 folks have been experiencing homelessness in Chester County on the evening of January 24, 2024. The PIT depend – a guide nationwide census of individuals experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness on one evening in January – confirmed a major discount in contrast with Chester County’s 2023 outcomes. 

Several elements impacted Chester County’s 2024 PIT depend lower. Milder climate meant fewer folks have been in Code Blue emergency shelters. In addition, two transitional housing organizations, Fresh Start and Veterans Multiservice Center, closed their applications on the finish of their lease with the VA Medical Center in Coatesville on March 31, 2023, so the 2024 PIT depend didn’t embrace these organizations (which added 141 veterans to the 2023 depend).  

In a joint assertion, Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell, Marian Moskowitz, and Eric Roe mentioned, “There will always be factors ‘on the night’ that impact the number of homeless people recorded during the PIT count, but the important factor that is steadily reducing the number of those experiencing homelessness is the years of work by DCD and our Partnership to End Homelessness to find ways to not only provide shelter but prevent homelessness in the first place. 

“We recognize that homelessness is still an issue for far too many and we will continue to work with our community partners to strengthen their efforts to find affordable homes and keep people in their existing homes.”

In 2022, Chester County grew to become one in all 101 communities nationwide to hitch the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “House America” initiative to advertise and commit to construct 1,000 reasonably priced housing models over ten years, and quickly re-house those that are experiencing homelessness. 

“We are already one-third of the way to meeting our House America goal, with more than 315 homes built, under construction, or in the planning phase in places like Phoenixville, West Chester, Kennett Square, West Whiteland, Caln Township, Elverson and Willistown Township,” mentioned Dolores Colligan, Director of Chester County’s Department of Community Development.   

“Between January 2021 and February 2024, our department administered the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, which has helped more than 6,000 households in the past three years to remain housed and avoid conviction.   And the Eviction Prevention Case Resolution Program, coordinated by the Friends Association, provides onsite eviction prevention services in district courts in Coatesville, Downingtown, and West Chester,” famous Colligan. “This program is a game-changer for many who are facing imminent court eviction.”

According to the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania in an April 2024 report, previous to Chester County’s Eviction Prevention Case Resolution Program, solely 22 p.c of those instances have been withdrawn or settled. Recent knowledge signifies a major shift, with practically 63 p.c of eviction instances being withdrawn or settled due to the Eviction Prevention Case Resolution Program.  

“Through our collective efforts, DCD and its partners have one commitment and one vision to see everyone in our community safely and stably housed,” added Colligan.  

 Additional knowledge from Chester County’s 2024 PIT depend confirmed that 62 p.c of these experiencing homelessness have been folks of shade, and 30 p.c have been kids. Of the 213 folks counted, 19 lived in or slept in locations not meant for human habitation.

 According to the U.S. Census American Community Survey, previously 5 years, Chester County’s median lease has elevated by greater than 27 p.c, and housing costs have elevated by over 23 p.c.

 Rob Henry, Administrator of the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness, mentioned, “Chester County is very intentional in exploring ways to find people homes, and to do everything possible to keep people in their existing homes. At the heart of this is our connection with like-minded people and organizations who take a holistic approach to addressing the many reasons for homelessness and who combine efforts to find solutions.

 “In a county that has the highest housing costs in the region, we have to combine our resources and efforts to help people live in homes that are safe and secure.”

 The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requires biennial PIT counts of individuals experiencing homelessness. In Chester County, DCD employees and neighborhood volunteers conduct the PIT depend yearly to know native homelessness developments higher and assist efforts to forestall and finish homelessness.