March 28, 2024 – The population of Homeless individuals has increased over 2023, according to new results of the Macon County Homeless Continuum of Care Point in Time Study. The study also revealed a need for more beds in transitional housing and a need for more affordable housing in Macon County.
In Macon County, the 2024 study was done over a 24-hour period from January 25th to January 26th, through canvassing communities and neighborhoods. For the point of the study, homelessness is defined as staying in a place for 90 days or more that is not fit for human habitation or living in transitional housing.
The study was organized by the Point In Time Committee and conducted by the Homeless Council Continuum of Care and students of the Millikin Tabor School of Business.
The study found 139 individuals in Macon County are classified as homeless or living in continuum of care housing. This was an increase over 2023 which found 110 homeless individuals, and 2022 which found 93 homeless individuals.
The most common causes of homelessness according to the canvass and surveying was mental illness and domestic violence. The largest age group for homeless individuals was 24-64, followed by individuals under 18. The Point In Time study also found that 66% of the homeless population are male, compared to 34% female.
The majority of that population, 67.6% are currently living in emergency shelters, however the survey found that occupied beds currently exceeded the seasonal capacity of the emergency housing.
Millikin business student, Madeline Regan, helped to coordinate the count for this year. “The biggest takeaway I had this year was all the ways the different agencies come together to help the individuals experiencing homelessness, Regan said. “These individuals are just like everyone else. If you approach them like you would anyone else, you will see that you can make a connection with them and they are experiencing struggles just like you would.”
This was the first year to work on the Point In Time study for Computer Science Major, Justin Maniago. He didn’t expect his experience with numbers to make a difference. “I really learned how much of an impact this study does for the community. The technical side is typically go unnoticed, but the data collected is important.”
The study, which is done once a year in communities across the nation, is reported to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and reported to Congress. The report helps to determine funding to combat homelessness in the year to come.
To see the full study, click HERE.
