News & Resources
Chester County 2023 Point-in-Time Count
On the evening of Wednesday, January 25 and early hours of Thursday, January 26, 2023 the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) facilitated the annual Point-in-Time Count. The purpose of this initiative is to determine the number of people currently experiencing homelessness on a given night, to better understand homelessness in Chester County and across the nation, and to support the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness’ efforts to prevent and end homelessness.
Homelessness in Chester County at one point in time.
On the evening of Wednesday, January 25 and early hours of Thursday, January 26, 2023 the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) facilitated the annual Point-in-Time Count.* The purpose of this initiative is to determine the number of people currently experiencing homelessness on a given night, to better understand homelessness in Chester County and across the nation, and to support the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness’ efforts to prevent and end homelessness.
436 people were experiencing homelessness in Chester County on January 25, 2023
Homelessness Over the Last 5 Years**
Race
Ethnicity
33% (or 144) individuals identify as female
37% (or 163) individuals in families with children
25% (or 109) children under age 18
35% (or 141) individuals in interim housing identify as veterans***
10% (or 42) individuals were identified as chronically homeless
29 people were sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground.
Unsheltered Homelessness By Location
Coatesville: 5 individuals
Downingtown/Thorndale: 3 individuals
Kennett Square: 3 individuals
Malvern/Paoli/Exton: 2 individuals
Oxford: 5 individuals
Parkesburg/Atglen/Honey Brook: 4 individuals
Phoenixville: 2 individuals
West Chester: 5 individuals
Total Individuals, 29
407 people were living in a public or private temporary shelter, including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels.
Sheltered Homelessness by Type and Household
One county. One commitment. One vision to see our community housed.
Learn more about ending homelessness in Chester County.
Take action and connect with us on Facebook @ChescoPartnership
Become a partner and support, rent, or develop affordable housing
* This is a national effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and data from the count is included in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), which is presented to Congress.
** In 2021, Chester County did not conduct a comprehensive Point-in-Time Count due to COVID-19.
*** Veteran status of unsheltered individuals is unknown.
Navigating an Overburdened Courtroom: How Inconsistent Rules, Shadow Procedures, and Social Capital Disadvantage Tenants in Eviction Court
Landlords and tenants in eviction court navigate a complex legal and administrative process. Eviction courts are overburdened and under pressure to process enormous numbers of cases each day.
Eviction Lab: Eviction Tracking for Pennsylvania
Eviction Lab presents the latest on eviction data in the state of Pennsylvania.
Housing and Homes
People’s homes can have a major impact on their health and well-being. Healthy People 2030 focuses on reducing health and safety risks in homes.
The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Rental Homes
Each year, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) measures the availability of rental housing affordable to extremely low-income households and other income groups. Based on the American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (ACS PUMS), The Gap presents data on the affordable housing supply and housing cost burdens at the national, state, and metropolitan levels. The report also examines the demographics, disability and work status, and other characteristics of extremely low-income households most impacted by the national shortage of affordable and available rental homes.
Each year, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) measures the availability of rental housing affordable to extremely low-income households and other income groups. Based on the American Community Survey Public Use Microdata Sample (ACS PUMS), The Gap presents data on the affordable housing supply and housing cost burdens at the national, state, and metropolitan levels. The report also examines the demographics, disability and work status, and other characteristics of extremely low-income households most impacted by the national shortage of affordable and available rental homes.
Chester County 2023 Coordinated Entry System Efficacy
Coordinated entry supports fair, equitable, and rapid access to housing assistance and stability services. All services in the coordinated entry system are tracked through the Chester County Homeless Management Information System to help generate data that informs system improvement. Each year, we evaluate this data looking for markers of success and areas for improvement.
What is Coordinated Entry?
Coordinated entry supports fair, equitable, and rapid access to housing assistance and stability services. All services in the coordinated entry system are tracked through the Chester County Homeless Management Information System to help generate data that informs system improvement. Each year, we evaluate this data looking for markers of success and areas for improvement.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an effective coordinated entry system ensures that assistance is allocated as effectively as possible and is accessible no matter where or how people present.
How do we measure success?
To measure the efficacy of our system, the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness looks for:
an overall decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness,
a decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness for the first time,
a decrease in the length of stay in emergency shelters and transitional housing (interim housing),
a decrease in the rate of returns to homelessness,
successful employment and income growth, and
successful placement into/retention of permanent housing.
What does the data tell us?
People Entering Shelters and First-Time Homelessness
Thanks to the work of our network of partners, there has been a steady decrease in the number of people entering participating emergency shelters in our community over the past five years, from 1,480 in 2018 to 992 in 2022 (a 33% decrease).
People Experiencing Homelessness FY18-FY22
In addition, there has been a decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness for the first time in the last year, from 1,141 in 2021 to 694 in 2022 (a 39% decrease).
The data shows how effective the coordinated entry system and Housing First, an approach that prioritizes permanent housing, can be in connecting people experiencing housing instability and homelessness to housing and long-term stability. The decrease in the overall number of people entering shelters and those experiencing homelessness for the first time can be attributed to increased prevention efforts implemented across the county.
Prevention provides housing relocation and stabilization services to prevent an individual or family from entering the emergency shelter system. Prevention efforts across the county include the Friends Association Eviction Prevention Case Resolution program, which provides free legal and social services support needed to prevent evictions and future housing instability, and the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) grant funding through the Chester County Department of Community Development, which can be used to pay rent and utilities or rehousing costs.
People Experiencing First-Time Homelessness
Length of Stay in Emergency Shelters
The average length of stay in emergency shelters has increased by 61% from 64 days in 2021 to 103 days in 2022.
This increase in the average length of stay could be attributed to inflation, a tightening of the housing market, high healthcare costs, reduced capacity and resources to support rapid resolution, the inability to rapid rehouse and provide supportive housing, as well as other demographic and health factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, mental health issues, or substance use disorder.
Rapid resolution combines diversion and rapid exit strategies to help avoid literal homelessness or minimize the length of stay in emergency shelters. Diversion works to preserve current housing or assist individuals in finding temporary housing within their network of family, friends, or community, while rapid exit aims to ensure homelessness is as brief as possible, helping individuals return to housing on their own or with limited support and financial assistance.
Rapid rehousing and supportive housing provide case management, support services, and financial assistance to place individuals in permanent housing and provide the support they need to retain housing long-term.
Average and Median Length of Stay in Days FY18-FY22
Housing Assistance and Stability Services
Coordinated entry supports fair, equitable, and rapid access to housing assistance and stability services. The Housing First approach supports stable housing and individual choice as a foundation for meeting basic needs, accessing support services, and achieving long-term goals.
Data shows that the Housing First approach helps individuals and families remain in permanent housing. 85% of people who exited from interim or supportive housing to permanent housing remained housed two years later.
Of those individuals who were enrolled in permanent housing programs, 96% remained in permanent supportive housing or exited to other permanent housing.
People Exiting Interim or Supportive Housing to Permanent Housing
85% Remained Housed
85% of people exiting from interim or supportive housing to permanent housing remained housed two years later
People Enrolled in or Exiting to Permanent Housing
96% remained housed
96% of people enrolled in permanent supportive housing remained housed or exited to other permanent housing
Nearly half (45%) of individuals staying in CoC funded programs in 2022 increased their total income thanks to case management support to find employment or job training opportunities as well as support enrolling in government assistance and benefits programs (e.g. SSI, SSDI, etc).
Similarly, nearly half of individuals (44%) leaving CoC funded programs in 2022 also increased their total income setting them up for long-term stability and well-being.
People Staying in CoC Funded Programs, Increased Income
People Leaving CoC Funded Programs, Increased Income
One county. One commitment. One vision to see our community housed.
Learn more about ending homelessness in Chester County.
Take action and connect with us on Facebook @ChescoPartnership
Become a partner and support, rent, or develop affordable housing
Southeastern Pennsylvania Community Health Needs Assessment
A group of local hospitals and health systems collaborated on the Southeastern Pennsylvania Community Health Needs Assessment, with specific focus on Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia Counties, to continue collaboration and provide opportunities to expand and improve upon the last assessment process. Participants recognize this assessment as an important part of how health systems, multi-sector partners, and communities work together to achieve meaningful and positive community change.
Chester County 2022 Coordinated Entry System Efficacy
Coordinated entry supports fair, equitable, and rapid access to housing assistance and stability services. All services in the coordinated entry system are tracked through the Chester County Homeless Management Information System to help generate data that informs system improvement. Each year, we evaluate this data looking for markers of success and areas for improvement.
Coordinated entry supports fair, equitable, and rapid access to housing assistance and stability services. All services in the coordinated entry system are tracked through the Chester County Homeless Management Information System to help generate data that informs system improvement. Each year, we evaluate this data looking for markers of success and areas for improvement.
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, an effective coordinated entry system ensures that assistance is allocated as effectively as possible and is accessible no matter where or how people present.
How do we measure success?
To measure the efficacy of our system, we look for:
an overall decrease in the number of people experiencing homelessness,
a decrease in the length of stay in emergency shelters and safe havens,
an increase in retention of permanent housing, and
a decrease in the rate of returns to homelessness
System Performance 2017-2021
Returns to Homelessness from Emergency Shelters
What does the data tell us about system performance?
Thanks to the work of our network of partners, we have seen a steady decrease in the number of people entering participating emergency shelters in our community over the past five years, from 1,707 in 2017 to 1,165 in 2021 (a 32% decrease). We know that more resources are needed to meet the need in our community, but we are hopeful for the future.
The data shows us how effective the coordinated entry system and Housing First, an approach that prioritizes permanent housing, can be in connecting people experiencing housing instability and homelessness to housing and long-term stability.
32% decrease ⬇
in the number of people entering participating emergency shelters over the past five years.
35% decrease ⬇
in average length of stay in emergency shelters from 2019 to 2021.
The average length of stay in emergency shelters has decreased by 35% from 99 days in 2019 to 64 days in 2021. This decrease in the average length of stay could be attributed to successful prevention efforts, such as the eviction moratorium, emergency rental assistance program, eviction prevention court, and a continued decrease in evictions, keeping people in housing and out of emergency shelters. It could also be a sign that people referred through the coordinated entry system are finding housing options faster, being successfully placed in permanent housing, and staying housed longer.
83% remained housed
people who exited an emergency shelter to permanent housing remained housed two years later
85% remained housed
people who exited transitional housing to permanent housing remained housed two years later
In fact, we have seen high rates of permanent housing retention for individuals exiting from emergency shelters and transitional housing. The Housing First approach supports stable housing and individual choice as a foundation for meeting basic needs, accessing support services, and achieving long-term goals, which has been attributed to greater rates of housing retention and overall improved quality of life.
View the Chester County Coordinated Entry System performance measures data
One county. One commitment. One vision to see our community housed.
Learn more about ending homelessness in Chester County.
Take action and connect with us on Facebook @ChescoPartnership
Become a partner and support, rent, or develop affordable housing
Evictions Cause Increases in Residential Mobility, Homelessness, and Hospital Use and Decreases in Financial Health
The National Bureau of Economic Research released a new paper, “Eviction and Poverty in American Cities,” evaluating the consequences of evictions for tenants in two urban areas: Cook County, IL, and New York City, NY.
Chester County 2022 Point-in-Time Count
On the evening of January 26 and early hours of January 27, 2022, the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) facilitated the annual Point-in-Time Count. The purpose of this initiative is to determine the number of people currently experiencing homelessness on a given night, to better understand homelessness in Chester County and across the nation, and to support the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness’ efforts to prevent and end homelessness.
Homelessness in Chester County at one point in time.
On the evening of January 26 and early hours of January 27, 2022, the Chester County Department of Community Development (DCD) facilitated the annual Point-in-Time Count. This is a national effort sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and data from the count is included in the Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR), which is presented to Congress. The purpose of this initiative is to determine the number of people currently experiencing homelessness on a given night, to better understand homelessness in Chester County and across the nation, and to support the Chester County Partnership to End Homelessness’ efforts to prevent and end homelessness.
402 people were experiencing homelessness in Chester County on January 26, 2022
Homelessness Over the Last 5 Years**
**In 2021, Chester County did not conduct a comprehensive Point-in-Time Count due to COVID-19.
Race
Ethnicity
35% (or 146) individuals identify as female
42% (or 168) individuals in families with children
25% (or 99) children under age 18
23 people were sleeping in a place not meant for human habitation, including a car, park, abandoned building, bus or train station, airport, or camping ground.
Unsheltered Homelessness By Location
Coatesville: 3 individuals in 3 households
Downington/Thorndale: 9 individuals in 1 household
Kennett Square: 1 individual in 1 household
Malvern: 1 individual in 1 household
Oxford: 4 individuals in 3 households
Parkesburg: 2 individuals in 2 households
West Chester: 3 individuals in 3 households
Total Households, 14
Total Individuals, 23
379 people were living in a public or private temporary shelter, including congregate shelters, transitional housing, and hotels and motels.
Sheltered Homelessness by Type and Household
One county. One commitment. One vision to see our community housed.
Learn more about ending homelessness in Chester County.
Take action and connect with us on Facebook @ChescoPartnership
Become a partner and support, rent, or develop affordable housing
Homelessness and Public Health: A Focus on Strategies and Solutions
This report published in the National Library of Medicine addresses many of these issues in the context of public health and explore the public health implications and potential solutions to homelessness, focusing on contemporary and emerging research and innovative strategies, and highlighting best practices to address homelessness among key populations.
State of Homelessness: 2021 Edition
The current report draws from the nationwide Point-in-Time Count that occurred in January of 2020, just a few weeks before COVID-19 was declared a national emergency. Thus, the data does not reflect any of the changes brought about by the crisis. Instead, the current report reflects the State of Homelessness in America just before a once-in-a-lifetime event interrupted the status quo. In January 2020, there were 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in America. Most were individuals (70 percent), and the rest were people living in families with children. They lived in every state and territory, and they reflected the diversity of our country.
The current report draws from the nationwide Point-in-Time Count that occurred in January of 2020, just a few weeks before COVID-19 was declared a national emergency. Thus, the data does not reflect any of the changes brought about by the crisis. Instead, the current report reflects the State of Homelessness in America just before a once-in-a-lifetime event interrupted the status quo. In January 2020, there were 580,466 people experiencing homelessness in America. Most were individuals (70 percent), and the rest were people living in families with children. They lived in every state and territory, and they reflected the diversity of our country.
Out of Reach 2021
Out of Reach documents the significant gap between renters’ wages and the cost of rental housing across the United States. The report’s central statistic, the Housing Wage, is an estimate of the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford a modest rental home at HUD’s fair market rent (FMR) without spending more than 30% of his or her income on housing costs, the accepted standard of affordability.
Out of Reach documents the significant gap between renters’ wages and the cost of rental housing across the United States. The report’s central statistic, the Housing Wage, is an estimate of the hourly wage a full-time worker must earn to afford a modest rental home at HUD’s fair market rent (FMR) without spending more than 30% of his or her income on housing costs, the accepted standard of affordability.
El Hueco: La Escasez de Viviendas Asequibles
Cada año, la Coalición Nacional de Vivienda de Bajos Ingresos (NLIHC) mide la disponibilidad de viviendas de alquiler asequibles para hogares de ingresos extremadamente bajos y otros grupos de ingresos. Basado en la Muestra de Microdatos de Uso Público de la Encuesta de la Comunidad Estadounidense (ACS PUMS), El Hueco presenta datos sobre la oferta de vivienda asequible y las cargas de los costos de vivienda a nivel nacional, estatal y metropolitano. El informe también examina la demografía, la discapacidad y el estado laboral, y otras características de los hogares de ingresos extremadamente bajos más afectados por la escasez nacional de viviendas de alquiler asequibles y disponibles.
Cada año, la Coalición Nacional de Vivienda de Bajos Ingresos (NLIHC) mide la disponibilidad de viviendas de alquiler asequibles para hogares de ingresos extremadamente bajos y otros grupos de ingresos. Basado en la Muestra de Microdatos de Uso Público de la Encuesta de la Comunidad Estadounidense (ACS PUMS), El Hueco presenta datos sobre la oferta de vivienda asequible y las cargas de los costos de vivienda a nivel nacional, estatal y metropolitano. El informe también examina la demografía, la discapacidad y el estado laboral, y otras características de los hogares de ingresos extremadamente bajos más afectados por la escasez nacional de viviendas de alquiler asequibles y disponibles.
2020 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report
The Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) is a HUD report to the U.S. Congress that provides nationwide estimates of homelessness, including information about the demographic characteristics of homeless persons, service use patterns, and the capacity to house homeless persons. The report is based on Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) data about persons who experience homelessness during a 12-month period, point-in-time counts of people experiencing homelessness on one day in January, and data about the inventory of shelter and housing available in a community.
The Annual Homeless Assessment Report (AHAR) is a HUD report to the U.S. Congress that provides nationwide estimates of homelessness, including information about the demographic characteristics of homeless persons, service use patterns, and the capacity to house homeless persons. The report is based on Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) data about persons who experience homelessness during a 12-month period, point-in-time counts of people experiencing homelessness on one day in January, and data about the inventory of shelter and housing available in a community.
Fuera de Alcance 2021
Los documentos fuera de alcance son una brecha significativa entre los salarios de los inquilinos y el costo de vivienda de alquiler en los Estados Unidos. La estadística central del informe, el costo de vivienda es una estimación del salario por hora que debe ganar un trabajador a tiempo completo para pagar una vivienda de alquiler modesta con el alquiler de mercado justo (FMR) de HUD sin gastar más del 30% de sus ingresos en gastos de vivienda, el estándar aceptado de asequibilidad.
Los documentos fuera de alcance son una brecha significativa entre los salarios de los inquilinos y el costo de vivienda de alquiler en los Estados Unidos. La estadística central del informe, el costo de vivienda es una estimación del salario por hora que debe ganar un trabajador a tiempo completo para pagar una vivienda de alquiler modesta con el alquiler de mercado justo (FMR) de HUD sin gastar más del 30% de sus ingresos en gastos de vivienda, el estándar aceptado de asequibilidad.
Housing and Health: A Roadmap for the Future
In this report, the American Hospital Association shares data on the connection between health and housing stability. To be physically and mentally healthy, individuals need a safe, stable place to sleep at night. Housing-insecure individuals have worse health status and outcomes than those in stable housing.
Students Experiencing Homelessness in Pennsylvania: New Evidence of Under-Identification and Inequity
Pennsylvania schools have a history of under-identification. In this brief, Research for Action provides some evidence of improvement in identification of students experiencing homelessness in PA; however, rates vary by school community and Pennsylvania overall ranks only 36th out of 50 states in identification of students experiencing homelessness per school-aged children in poverty.
Chester County Planning Commission Housing Report 2020
In 2020, recent trends of increasing housing prices, sales, and new construction continued. The median home sale price continued to rise, from $340,000 in 2018 to $355,000 in 2019, then further increasing to $375,064 in 2020. Adjusting for inflation, this is the highest median price since 2007.
In 2020, recent trends of increasing housing prices, sales, and new construction continued. The median home sale price continued to rise, from $340,000 in 2018 to $355,000 in 2019, then further increasing to $375,064 in 2020. Adjusting for inflation, this is the highest median price since 2007.
Understanding the Cycle of Housing Insecurity for Marginalized Survivors of Domestic and Sexual Violence
This paper summarizes findings from a community-based participatory research study conducted in collaboration with survivors from marginalized communities. The cycle of housing insecurity model presented in this paper draws attention to survivors’ barriers in getting and keeping housing. Recommendations are offered to counter these experiences through improved program services, policy implementation, and public awareness.