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PART II. PRIORITY HOMELESS NEEDS Priority: Maintain, improve and expand (as needed) the capacity of housing, shelter and services for homeless individuals and families including integrated healthcare, employment services and other services Priority Analysis and Obstacles to Meeting Underserved Needs The Alameda County HOME Consortium prepared, in part, the following analysis of the housing, shelter, transitional and permanent supportive housing needs and obstacles. As a Consortium member, the City of San Leandro subscribes to this priority and has proposed activities that meet the objective of maintaining, improving and expanding the current capacity of the emergency and transitional housing and shelter system while integrating them with needed social services. The Alameda Countywide Homeless Continuum of Care Council sponsored a survey in 2003 that indicated there were an estimated 6,215 homeless people (63% of whom were in Oakland and Berkeley) within Alameda County on any given night, while an additiona14,205 at-risk homeless people required emergency services. The County estimated that 53% of the homeless were women and 47% were men. Families and adults accompanied by children made up 21 % of the homeless surveyed. In addition, the survey noted that there were 1,280 chronically homeless people in the County, which represented 20% of the total homeless population and two times the national average. While services and housing opportunities for homeless people have steadily increased in Alameda County, they have not kept pace with the growth of homelessness. The Alameda Countywide Homeless Continuuun of Care Plan (1997) indicated that 38%-48% of the County's homeless population had alcohol or other drug problems and 22%-42% had moderate to severe mental health problems. There were a high percentage of people who were dually diagnosed with both alcohoUother drug problem and some form of mental illness (19%-40% of total homeless). HIV infection was estimated at 15%-25% of the total homeless adult population. For women, domestic violence was a major cause of homelessness, affecting 22%-60% of homeless women. Veterans make up approximately 34% of the homeless populations (primarily male veterans). The Continuum of Care Plan also indicated that 49% percent of the shelter beds in the County served families, however the number of beds did not meet the number of homeless who needed them. These beds were distributed across the County in proportion to the homeless population (i.e. most of the beds are in Oakland and Berkeley, with the remaining 35% spread throughout the County). Many of the shelter beds serve a portion of these subpopulations, however many people are more comfortable and more willing to get services from shelters that target people with their specific needs. Many shelters are unable to deal with the complex needs of some subpopulations, such as those dually diagnosed and those released from prison. Currently beds inchlde shelter beds, supported housing units, and residential Housing and Conununity Development Strategic Plan - FY 2005-09 City of San Leandro Page 14