2006 Housing Policy Study: The Hidden Homeless and Households at Risk of Homelessness by SMS Research & Marketing Services, Inc.

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Along this line, hidden homeless households were more likely than other households to have at least one person employed (92% vs. 62%) and to have household incomes above $50,000 a year (67% compared to 54%). At-risk households, on the other hand, had a lower annual income with only 45 percent above $50,000 and 33 percent below $30,000. This shows that hidden homeless households include more people, more people with jobs, and higher household incomes. However, one should not jump to conclusions based on these figures. The superficial observation of household characteristics will mask the need for housing among the hidden homeless and may give a false impression of financially stability. We note for instance, that when asked of the intention to move in the future, more hidden homeless respondents stated a desire to move in the next five years (30% compared to 24%). Further, despite the higher household incomes, hidden homeless households have a much lower income per household member. Hidden homeless households are less likely to have incomes that amount to more than $25,000 per person (22% compared to 44%) and are more likely to have incomes that amount to less than $10,000 per household member (33% compared to 16%). This suggests that despite the larger incomes, members of hidden homeless households actually have fewer resources to separate from the support network. It is also important to note that hidden homeless households by definition contain at least one group of people who want to move out in the next five years. The data show that both hidden homeless and at-risk households are much more likely than other households to have had actual experience with unsheltered homelessness. More than 10 percent of hidden homeless households reported at least one household member had been on the streets in the past 10 years. In at-risk households, the comparable figure was even higher at 12 percent. In adequately housed households, only 5 percent had experienced unsheltered homelessness during the same period. It can be inferred that these groups are more likely to become part of the unsheltered homeless in the future. HIDDEN HOMELESS AND AT-RISK ESTIMATES BY COUNTY Table 2. Hidden Homelessness and Risk of Homelessness, 1992 to 2006, Honolulu 1992 1997 2003 2006 Households 281,136 286,283 292,003 303,149 Hidden Homeless 13,765 18,291 12,656 12,390 At-Risk 82,692 50,875 37,424 57,283 Persons 863,959 886,711 879,305 907,883 Hidden Homeless 70,032 105,524 71,721 64,141 At-Risk 239,931 157,899 108,524 169,883 Persons per Household 3.07 3.10 3.01 2.99 Hidden Homeless 5.09 5.77 5.67 5.18 At-Risk 2.90 3.10 2.90 2.97 Hawaii Housing Policy Study,2006: Hidden Homeless and Households at Risk for Homelessness Page 4 ©SMS, Inc. February,2007