A new report offers a statistical snapshot of those who needed assistance in 2015.
More than 350 homeless households sought help last year in Warren County, according to a new report that compiles a statistical snapshot of New Jersey's homeless population.
The 2015 Homeless Assessment released Tuesday by Monarch Housing Associates uses information from the Homeless Management Information System from shelters and transitional housing. (The full statewide and county reports can be found here.)
Specifically in Warren, the information comes from Family Promise of Warren and the county Division of Temporary Assistance & Social Services.
Monarch also coordinates the state's Point-In-Time Count, part of a national effort to study demographics and trends in homelessness. New Jersey's count was held in January and those results are expected to be released in May.
Here are some of the 2015 homeless assessment's findings for Warren County:
368 households were served in 2015, totaling 567 people -- a 9 percent decrease from households served in 2014. Sixty-eight percent were individuals while the rest were families. Statewide, 18,527 households were served.
Most families had children under 18 years old. Of the 118 families served, 37 were adult-only households. The average size of a homeless family was three and the average age of a child served was 7 years.
18-to-29-year-olds were the most-served age range. They made up 32 percent of the homeless population. Children under 18 was the next highest range, at 24 percent. Other demographic breakdowns show the population split almost evenly between men and women, and 75 percent of the people served were white.
The cause of homelessness for most was being asked to leave a home shared by family or friends. That accounted for 53 percent of those served in 2015. The next most common reasons were eviction (15 percent) and domestic violence (6 percent). Half of the households said this was their first time being homeless.
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Mental health issues were the most-cited disability. Twelve percent of the people served said they had a disabling condition -- 65 percent cited a mental health issue. Substance abuse was identified by 30 percent.
Where did they go after the shelters? It's mixed. Information was not able to be collected on all discharged households. From the gathered data, 8 percent found permanent housing, mostly rentals. Six percent went to temporary housing like hotels or friends' homes while 2 percent went to hospitals, jail or other long-term facilities. Almost a quarter of households, 23 percent, were discharged because their needs could not be met.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.