Homelessness In Kalamazoo

Introduction
Homelessness is a part of life many are aware of and may even have witnessed or observed an individual experiencing homelessness. Homelessness crosses many social classifications including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, age, location, health, social status, and family status (Mizrahi & Davis, 2008). There are homeless individuals in every city across the United States. This paper will focus on the homeless population within the city of Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Task 1: Identify Focal Community
What is known about the history of this community?
Kalamazoo is the sixth largest city in the state of Michigan with a population of over 76,041 (The United States Census Bureau, 2010-2015). According to the Kalamazoo city government
website, the area now known as Kalamazoo was inhabited by the Pottawatomie tribe during the 18th and 19th century (City of Kalamazoo, 2017). In the 1820s, Titus Bronson arrived in the area to make a home for himself and, in 1829, he purchased a large plot of land that was called the Village of Bronson and later a portion was designated as Bronson Park (City of Kalamazoo, 2017). In 1836, the Village of Bronson was changed to Kalamazoo and by 1840 the native Pottawatomie tribe had been completely forced from their land by the pioneers (City of Kalamazoo, 2017).
How many persons are members of this community, and what are their demographic characteristics?
The 2015 Census Bureau demographic statistics for the city of Kalamazoo and Kalamazoo County are listed in the table below.
Categories City of Kalamazoo Kalamazoo County
Population as of
April 2010 76,041 260,263
Persons under 5 years, percent, April 1, 2010 6.4 6.3
Persons under 18 years, percent, April 1, 2010 20.5 22.7
Persons 65 years and over, percent, April 1, 2010 9.4 12.3
Female persons, percent, April 1, 2010 50.7 51.0
White alone, percent, April 1, 2010 68.1 81.7
Black or African American alone, percent, April 1, 2010 22.2 10.9 American Indian and Alaska Native alone, percent, April 1, 2010 0.5 0.4
Asian alone, percent, April 1, 2010 1.7 2.1
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, percent, April 1, 2010 0 0
Two or More Races, percent, April 1, 2010 4.6 3.3
Hispanic or Latino, percent, April 1, 2010 6.4 4.0
Veterans, 2011-2015 3,262 14,851
Foreign born persons, percent, 2011-2015 5.5 4.7
Housing units, April 1, 2010 32,433 110,007
Owner-occupied housing unit rate, 2011-2015 44.5 64.1
Median value of owner-occupied housing units, 2011-2015 $96,600 $137,000
Median selected monthly owner costs -with a mortgage, 2011-2015 $1,071 $1,249
Median selected monthly owner costs -without a mortgage, 2011-2015 $471 $486
Median gross rent, 2011-2015 $706 $722
Households, 2011-2015 28,025 100,341
Persons per household, 2011-2015 2.43 2.47
Living in same house 1 year ago, percent of persons age 1 year+, 2011-2015 66.5 78.9
Language other than English spoken at home, percent of persons age 5 years+, 2011-2015 9.8 7.0
High school graduate or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2011-2015 90.2 93.3
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25 years+, 2011-2015 32.7 35.1
With a disability, under age 65 years, percent, 2011-2015 11.3 9.7
Persons without health insurance, under age 65 years, percent 12.3 6.7
In civilian labor force, total, percent of population age 16 years+, 2011-2015 64.5 65.6
In civilian labor force, female, percent of population age 16 years+, 2011-2015 62.2 61.8
Median household income (in 2015 dollars), 2011-2015 $33,009 $47,476
Per capita income in past 12 months (in 2015 dollars), 2011-2015 $19,242 $26,416
Persons in poverty, percent 16.0 33.9
(The United States Census Bureau, 2010-2015)
What social indicator data are available about this and similar communities?
Kalamazoo is known for many things such as Upjohn Pharmaceutical, Stryker Medical Supply, Checker Motors, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, and Bell’s Brewery (Western Michigan University, 2017). The City of Kalamazoo is the native home of professional athletes Derek Jeter and Greg Jennings (Western Michigan University, 2017).
Identify and Collaborate with the Target Population
Which community group or subgroup will be the target population of this assessment?
This assessment will focus on the homeless population within Kalamazoo County.
The Kalamazoo Continuum of Care identifies homeless individuals as the following:
Individuals or families who lack a fixed, regular or adequate nighttime residence; and have a primary nighttime residence that is- a supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations (including welfare hotels, congregate shelters and transitional housing); an institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or a public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodations for human beings. (City of Kalamazoo, 2014, p. 32 pa.
2)
The Annual Homeless Assessment Report, released in 2008, showed the homeless population of Kalamazoo County had increased by just over 40 percent within one year (Jessup, 2009). The Local Initiative Support Corp’s 2009 report counted 985 homeless individuals, indicating a 14 percent increase from 2008 (Jessup, 2009). The number of homeless individuals in Kalamazoo County is believed to be rising (Jessup, 2009). In 2011, approximately 4,856 individuals in Kalamazoo were identified as being homeless (City of Kalamazoo, 2014). The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission’s 2017 census report indicates that in 2016 the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission serviced 3,378 men, 2,260 women, and 1,504 children; totaling 7,142 homeless individuals served within Kalamazoo in 2016 (Kalamazoo Gospel Mission Month by Month Census Report, 2016-2017). Within the population of homeless individuals in Kalamazoo County, 67 percent of those that seek the services of the local shelters are male (Jessup, 2009). However, women have been identified as “the fastest growing segment of the local homeless population seeking shelter” (Jessup, 2009, pa. 3). Many of these women are often accompanied by their children (Jessup, 2009). From 2007 to 2008 the number of women seeking shelter has increased 24 percent (Jessup, 2009). Based on reports from The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission, the ethnic breakdown of the homeless population in Kalamazoo who seek out homeless shelters can be described as the following: “50 percent are white, 45 percent are African-American, 4 percent are Hispanic and some are Native Americans” (Jessup, 2009, pa. 5). The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission identifies its two largest age brackets of shelter participants as 29 percent being from ages 46 to 65 and 26 percent being under 18 years old (Jessup, 2009).
What are the value and political implications of focusing on a specific group, and how will they be involved in the assessment process?
National and state programs provide many of the needed resources for the vulnerable or disenfranchised population (Mechanic & Tanner, 2007). When there is lack of opportunities for any group within the population, it creates problems for the entire community (Mechanic & Tanner, 2007). In order for the proper services to be provided, politicians must be able to determine the specific needs and problems. By focusing on the specific group; program administrators can more clearly identify which programs focus directly on individuals and which to focus on neighborhoods, school, or community programs (Mechanic & Tanner, 2007). When assessment data is focused on these specific populations; both state and city policies are able to create services and programs to best meet the needs of the target population (Mechanic & Tanner, 2007).
The homeless community will be involved in the assessment process through participating in several opportunities for data collection, feedback, and response to community plans. Opportunities include: Community Development Act Advisory Committee’s monthly meetings and public hearings, Consolidation Plan’s Community Needs Survey, and Kalamazoo County Community Action Agency’s six focus groups in targeted neighborhoods (City of Kalamazoo, 2014).
Is this target population primarily part of a geographical, social, or political community or a combination?
The target population is a combination of a geographical and social community. The population is identified as the homeless within the city of Kalamazoo. This describes a specific area and location for the target population. In a study published in 2001, researchers identified core elements of a community (MacQueen et al., 2001). The first is identified as a locus, which refers to a location, place or setting; in this case the city of Kalamazoo (MacQueen et al., 2001). A large amount of the homeless population within Kalamazoo is located within the Eastside and downtown area (City of Kalamazoo Community Planning and Development Services, 2016).
The social community that the target population is a member of is that of the impoverished. According to Kalamazoo Community Action Agency, approximately 44,656 people residing within Kalamazoo County are considered to be living in poverty (Cullum et al., 2013). According to the National Coalition for the Homeless, those who experience poverty are also more likely to experience homelessness (National Coalition for the Homeless, 2007). Over half the amount of those living in poverty within Kalamazoo County are found to live primarily within the City of Kalamazoo (Cullum et al., 2013). The poor can be considered to be their own social group.
What priority is given to the needs of this target population in the community?
There has been much priority given to the needs of the homeless within the city of Kalamazoo.
The city of Kalamazoo publishes a 5-year consolidated plan that discusses the city’s housing and development needs (City of Kalamazoo, 2014). The 2014-2018 plan identified goals for the following areas of need: affordable housing, homeless assistance, neighborhood enhancement, and youth development (City of Kalamazoo, 2014).The Consolidation Plan’s priority needs summary identified emergency shelter, rapid rehousing and prevention as high priority needs for improving the issues of homelessness in Kalamazoo (City of Kalamazoo, 2014). Priority for the 2014 to 2018 Consolidation Plan was given to the re-housing model, homelessness assistance model, and homelessness prevention (City of Kalamazoo, 2014). In 2015, the Kalamazoo County Local Housing Assistance Fund Millage was approved by the citizens of Kalamazoo County (Monacelli, 2015). It is estimated that this tax millage will provide $800,000 to be used for providing temporary financial housing assistance to homeless families with children to help them obtain and maintain permanent housing (Monacelli,
2015).