Stats & Facts
How many people experience homelessness per night in Chicago?
In 2022, a total of 3,875 people experienced homelessness
- 2,612 were sheltered (67.4%)
- 1,263 were not sheltered (32.6%)
Source: 2022 PIT Final Report
Report based around participants who are available.
Surveys conducted in public areas like CTA blue and red line, airports, parks, and high population neighborhoods.
Out of the top 25 U.S cities with the largest homeless populations, where does Chicago rank?
Chicago ranks as #18 on the list.
Some others on the list include...
- Houston, Texas #22
- Miami, Florida #20
- Dallas Texas and Washington DC (tied) #15
- Boston Massachusetts #14
- New York, New York #2
- Los Angeles, California #1
Source: US News, The 25 U.S. Cities With Largest Homeless Populations (2023)
Those who were incarcerated have a higher rate of being part of the sheltered homeless population.
False
Those who were formerly incarcerated reported higher levels for being unsheltered.
- 40.0% were men and 33.0% were women in the unsheltered homeless population
- 33.3% were men and 8.7% were women in the sheltered homeless population
Source: 2022 PIT Final Report
The homeless population who are sheltered are 30% more likely to experience chronic homelessness compared to those that are unsheltered.
False
62.7% reported being unsheltered and experiencing homelessness for a year or more
Source : 2022 PIT Final Report
What age range is most impacted for experiencing homelessness?
In 2022,
- 38.4% of the homeless population were between 41-60 years old
- 16.2% of the homeless population were <18 years old
- 25.4% of the homeless population were between 25-40 years old
Source: 2022 PIT Final Report
Which major city had 77,943 people experiencing homelessness per night during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic?
New York City
Source: 2022 PIT Final Report
What is one of Chicago's new tax proposals to resolving homelessness?
The Bring Chicago Home proposal
Source: DFSS, Bring Chicago Home: Rally Hearing
There are more homeless people living out on the streets v.s. shelters.
False,
on average from 2018 to 2022,
-28.44% were unsheltered with an increase to 32.6% in 2022
-71.56% were sheltered, but there was a decrease to 67.4% in 2022
Source: 2022 PIT Final Report
How many students experienced homelessness during the 2022-2023 school year?
It was reported that the number was over 17,000 students.
Source: DFSS, Bring Chicago Home: Rally Hearing
What percentage of Chicago's budget for homelessness has been used so far in 2023?
Chicago has only used 12.778%, or $46 million dollars so far.
Source: DFSS, Bring Chicago Home: Rally Hearing
What percentage of likely voters in Chicago think that Chicago City Council haven't done enough to help resolve the issue with homelessness?
73% of those surveyed by the Department of Family & Support Services (DFSS).
Source: DFSS, Bring Chicago Home: Rally Hearing
In 2022, 76% of the homeless population reported to be Black.
True
75.9% of the total population experiencing homelessness reported being Black in the surveys
The Black homeless population has stayed over 70% since the origin of the surveys 2005.
Source: 2022 PIT Final Report
During the pandemic, what percentage of Illinois' homeless population resided in Chicago?
59.73%
65,611 people experienced literal or doubled-up homelessness of the total 109,842 homelessness population in Illinois during 2020.
Source: Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, Illinois State of Homelessness Report (2022)
Which major city has spent $2.1 billion on homelessness in 2023 so far?
New York has a proposed budget of $3.5 billion dollars for the year of 2023
Source: Report to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on General Welfare on the Fiscal 2024 Executive Plan and the Fiscal 2024 Executive Capital Commitment Plan for the Department of Homeless Services (2023)
What is Chicago's budget for the Anti-Homelessness Initiative?
Governor J.B Pritzker increased the budget by $85.3 million to a total of about $360 million.
Source: WIFR 23 News, Pritzker Increases Budget for Illinois Anti-Homelessness Initiative (2023)
The top leading cause to homelessness is from losing their job.
False
The top reported leading causes for homelessness from the surveys were
-38.8% Family Disputes
-17.1% Loss of Employment
-14.8% Multiple Reasons
Source: 2022 PIT Final Report
Per year, how much do you think it cost per person to criminalize people experiencing chronic homelessness?
Between $30,000 and $50,000 per year
Source: National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty Fact Sheet
From 2007 to 2020, which major city experienced the greatest decrease in the trend of people experiencing homelessness?
Houston experienced a 62% decrease
Chicago experienced a 10% decrease.
New York experienced a 55% increase.
Source: 2022 PIT Final Report
When Chicago received $2.1 billion for COVID-19 relief, what department received the biggest increase in funding?
CPD
- Chicago Police Department received $281.5 million of the relief money to go towards police payroll.
Source: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot spent $281.5 million in federal COVID-19 relief money on police payroll (2021)
Chicago police have quotas.
False
Senate Bill 3411, signed by Governor Pat Quinn went into effect January 1st, 2015
- this bill prohibits police to be evaluated based on a quota needed to be met and eliminates a minimum per tickets for police
Source: Illinois.gov Press Release, Governor Quinn Signs Legislation to Ban Police Ticket Quotas (2014)