Homeless and Poor in Ventura
County
Jamshid Damooei, Ph.D.
Professor of Economics and
Co-Director of Center for
Leadership and Values
November 2005
Definition of Home and Homelessness

Definitions of homelessness are inextricably linked with the meaning
and reality of home.

The definitions of homelessness used for this research relate to the
physical and social aspects of homelessness.

In general homelessness has two interconnected dimensions: a lack
of secure affordable accommodation; and the fracturing of
relationships with families and communities of origin.

A person as being homeless ‘if and only if, he or she has inadequate
access to safe and secure housing.
Impact of Homelessness on a
Person/Family



Damages are likely to create adverse impact on the
person’s health
Threatens the person’s safety
Marginalizes the person through failing to provide
access to:
–
–

adequate personal amenities
the economic or social supports that a home normally
affords
places the person in circumstances which threaten or
adversely affect the adequacy, safety, security or
affordability of that housing.
Different Types of Homelessness

Primary Homelessness: People without conventional
accommodation, such as people living on streets, sleeping in parks,
squatting in derelict buildings, or using cars or railway carriages for
temporary shelter.

Secondary Homelessness: People who move frequently from
one form of temporary shelter to another. It covers: people using
emergency accommodation (such as hostels for the homeless or night
shelters); teenagers staying in youth refuges; women and children
escaping domestic violence (staying in women’s refuges); people
residing temporarily with other families (because they have no
accommodation of their own); and those using boarding houses on an
occasional or intermittent basis.
Different Types of Homelessness
Continued…

Tertiary homelessness: People who live in boarding houses on a
medium to long-term basis. Residents of private boarding houses do
not have a separate bedroom and living room; they do not have
kitchen and bathroom facilities of their own; their accommodation is
not self-contained; and they do not have security of tenure provided by
a lease.
 Chronically (Long-term) homeless: are those on a low income
or no income. They frequently have characteristics that hamper their
ability to search for scarce low income housing, such as substance
abuse issues, psychiatric disability and/or volatility. Their lives often
revolve around daily survival. A survivalist orientation makes it difficult
for them to focus on longer term goals. In order to maintain any level of
improvement in the quality of their lives, people in this group require a
continuing level of care.
Different Types of Homelessness
Continued…

Episodically homeless: are described as being highly motivated to
find permanent housing, however, they are typically unprepared for
independent living. Due to a range of factors such as substance
abuse, mental illness and volatility it is difficult for them to find and
maintain independent housing in a market of scarce resources. They
often have histories of unresolved crises that have led to their minimal
functioning. Frequently they present a picture of resignation and
hopelessness. This group need long-term care.
 Situationally homeless: are described as lacking shelter because
of an acute crisis and are usually for the first time. They respond well
to short-term crisis intervention, including emotional support, help
setting priorities, advocacy for community support, and concrete help
with basic needs. Once they find affordable housing, they move
quickly to re-establish independent living.
Economic Causes of Homelessness


Low Income
Rise of Low Paying Jobs in Communities
–
–
–
–

The Big Picture (globalization and Its impact on
domestic labor force).
Labor Market Structure (race to bottom: Impact of
Walmartization).
Demise of Labor Union
Lack of or weak community based advocacy
Education and Labor Market
Economic Causes of Homelessness,
Continued…



Government Fiscal Policies and Inadequate
Support to Reduce Poverty, Particularly
Among Children
Cost of Housing (Caused by production
bottlenecks, market structure of rental
properties, etc.)
Lack of Local Initiatives in Absence of
Needed State or Federal Measures to help
poor and reduce poverty.
A Glace at Ventura County and other
Surrounding Communities






Poverty in General, Among Women SingleHeaded households.
Wage and Salary Depression
Education and Labor Market
Future Jobs in the County: Are they going to
be better paid?
Faces of Homeless in the County
What can be done?
Change in Real Wage
Real wage Relative to the Average
Hourly Wage
Poverty Among Children and Old
people
Poverty Among Children and Elderly in Ventura County
30000
25000
5000
3,925
4,684
4500
3,951
3,680
28,800
24,704
20000
4000
3500
29,685
24,648
2,379
15000
3000
2500
2000
21,327
1500
10000
1000
5000
500
0
0
2000
2001
0 - 17 yrs
2002
2003
65+ yrs
2004
# of Elderly in Poverty
# of Children in Poverty
35000
Poverty Among Families Headed by
Single Women
Rate of Poverty among Single-headed Family by Women
Ventura County, 1989 & 1999
45.1%
40.3%
50.0%
40.0%
30.0%
20.0%
10.0%
18.1%
17.6%
28.3%
25.9%
25.5%
23.4%
1989
19.4%
18.3%
1999
4.2%
6.8%
0.0%
Under 5 5 to 17 years No related
Under 5
With related
Female
children
only
years only years and 5
householder, children
under 18
to 17 years
no husband under 18
years
years
present
Ethnic Structure of Poverty in Ventura
County
% of Whites and Hispanics Below Poverty Line in Ventura County
%
18
17.2
16
15.0
14
13.3
12
10
8
6
8.3
7.4
7.9
4
2
0
2001
2002
White
2003
Hispanic
$60,000
0.455
Salary (dollars)
$50,000
$40,000
0.274
$30,000
0.281
0.167
$20,000
0.131
$10,000
$0
State & Local
Govt.
Agriculture
Manufacturing
Finance,
Insurance &
Real Estate
Services
Industry
Salary
%change over decade
0.5
0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Percentage change
Job Growth and Change in Employees
Compensations
Employment vs. Salary in Various
Industries
90,000
81600
80,000
Employment
70,000
60,000
51300
$55,285
50,000
40900
40,000
36300
$42,278
$41,372
$37,604
$35,661
30,000
$29,363
19600
$20,419
20,000
15500
11300
$19,685
13000
10,000
0
State & Local
Govt.
Agriculture
Manufacturing
Finance,
Insurance &
Real Estate
Services
Transportation
& Public
Utilities
Industry
Employment
Salary
Retail Trade
Wholesale
Trade
Financial Ability for Having Child Care
for Working Parents
Portion Of Income Needed to Pay Child Care Costs For One
Infant In a Licenced Centre In Ventura County(2002)
50%
46%
45%
40%
% OF INCOME
35%
30%
25%
22%
20%
15%
10%
10%
5%
0%
Minimum wage (
$14,040/year)
Low income($
30,000/yer)
INCOME
Median Income($
65,285/year)
Need for Child Care in Ventura County
Dem and for Child Care in Ventura County for 2001
120,000
Number of Children/Slots
102,218
100,000
80,000
60,000
40,000
24,007
20,000
0
Children Needing Child Care
Licensed Child Care Slots
Source: California Child Care Resource & Referral Netw ork
Projection of Educational/Skill
Requirement in Near Future for the
Ventura County (2001-2008)
Shorter OJT
Medium OJT
Longer OJT
Work Experience
Post-Sec VocEd
AA Degree
BA/BS
BA/BS+Exp
MA/MS
PhD
LLD/MD
0
5
10
15
20
% of New Jobs
25
30
35
40
Projection of the Future Needs of
Knowledge & Skills
Educational Attainment
Ventura County
0.50
0.45
0.40
Percent of pop
0.35
0.30
0.25
0.20
0.15
Less High School
High School
0.10
Less BA
BA Plus
0.05
0.00
19
70
19
72
19
74
19
76
19
78
19
80
19
82
19
84
19
86
19
88
19
90
19
92
19
94
19
96
19
98
20
00
20
02
20
04
20
06
20
08
20
10
20
12
20
14
2003 Weekly Earnings and
Unemployment – US Over 25
2003 Weekly Earnings and Unemployment - US Over 25
Weekly earnings
Unemployment Rate
$1,600
$1,400
10.0%
8.8%
$1,307
$1,349
9.0%
8.0%
$1,200
$1,064
$1,000
7.0%
6.0%
$900
5.5%
$800
5.2%
$622
$554
$600
5.0%
$672
4.0%
4.0%
3.3%
3.0%
2.9%
$396
$400
1.7%
2.1% 2.0%
$200
1.0%
$0
0.0%
Some high High School
School
Diploma
Some
College
Associate
Degree
Bachelor's
Degree
Master's
Degree
Professional
Degree
Doctorral
Degree
Housing Affordability
Home Prices in California and Ventura
County
Median Home Prices in California and Ventura County 1998-2004
700
$587,847
$ in thousands
600
500
$462,520
$372,400
400
300
200
$295,080
$233,770
$200,100
$254,950
$217,510
$322,580
$241,350
$450,275
$372,720
$316,130
$262,350
100
0
1998
1999
2000
Ventura County
2001
2002
California
2003
2004
The Face of Homeless in Ventura
County

According to data gathered from surveys, questionnaires, database statistics,
and information from service providers, the County has a homeless population
of approximately 3,000 to 4,000 individuals and 300 to 400 families.

Additional information suggests that homelessness in the County is increasing
and the number of persons at risk of homelessness is increasing.

The increased cost of housing, the decline in vacancy rates and lag in housing
production have contributed to the increased homeless population.

Other trends include: an increasing number of homeless young people age 1825 years; increasing numbers of persons on fixed incomes who may be at risk
of becoming homeless; and, lack of appropriate housing services for homeless
adults seeking reunification with children.
The Face of Homeless in Ventura
County, Continued…
The information presented in this section are taken from “Lessons from the Flood: A survey of Homeless
Persons in Ventura County, February 24, 2005” Sponsored and Conducted by the Ventura County
Homeless and Housing Coalition









Demographic Profile of the Homeless in Ventura County
54% (for the 4th year in a row) who were in the shelter were women
and children.
50% are under 6 years of age
116 of these children are waiting to be reunited with their parents
14% of the population of homeless are veterans
86% were regular Ventura County residents.
63% have lived in the county in the last 10 year.
54% were using the shelter for the first time (new homeless?)
48% had been homeless 6 months or less (Indicating a rise?)
The Face of Homeless in Ventura
County, Continued…






Work Status/ Public Assistance of Homeless (a
historic comparison)
18% are working (32% last year)
8% received CalWORKS assistance (same as last
year)
16% receive Food Stamps (17% last year)
15% receive SSI/SDI (13% last year)
34% have no income (31% last year)
The Face of Homeless in Ventura
County, Continued…
Educational Attainment of Our Homeless in
Ventura Count
 41% are high school or GED graduates
 27% have attended college
The Face of Homeless in Ventura
County, Continued…






Health Status of Homeless Population
31% were hospitalized in the last 12 months
37% named a health problem they were
concerned about
27% are mentally disabled
28% are physically disabled
43% deal with issue of alcohol or drugs
The Face of Homeless in Ventura
County, Continued…



Where Homeless Stay When Shelters are
Closed
More than a third (some 39%) literally sleep
outdoors when shelters are closed.
Another 12% sleep in cars.
Profile of Hunger and Food Insecurity
in Ventura County
The information in this part is taken from California Food Policy Advocates in 2003 report entitled “Touched by Hunger: a
County by County Report of Food Insecurity in California

Estimated Number of Low-Income Adults Reporting Hunger or Food Insecurity
in Ventura: 30,000

Estimated number of other persons living in these households:102,000

Total Number “Touched” by Hunger and Food Insecurity in Ventura > 132,000

Estimated number of kids eligible for free/reduced price school breakfast:
43,403

Estimated number of eligible kids not getting free/reduced price breakfast in
Ventura: 27,505

Estimated amount of lost federal resources resulting from the unserved
breakfasts: $5,226,402
What Do We Learn from Putting human
Face on our Homeless and What Can
Be Done?







There is not much difference between the profile of homeless in
Ventura County or other neighboring communities.
They are our children, poor, sick, needy, disabled, and single
women headed household who are suffering.
Children are our future, ignoring them is to write off the most
valuable segment of our potential future human capital.
Treat different components of the homeless differently as their
needs are different.
Training our workforce to be qualified for better pay jobs.
Help young families with childe care.
Look closer and deeper into constituting living wage ordanance
or similar measures.
What Do We Learn …..What Can Be
Done? Continued…

Increase production of affordable housing:
–
–
–
–


Farm workers Housing
Reconsidering county housing restriction in favor of affordable
housing (this involves some direct intervention in the housing
production market).
Provide greater number of rental housing and look closer into the
existing market structure of residential housing companies.
Increase shelter capacity in the county
Provide support for training and creating greater level of skills
that market needs and pay more for.
Join the debate and create a movement to put greater emphasis
on economic policies to eradicate poverty and homelessness.
Thank You
Glad to Answer Any Questions You May Have.