Soglin Explains His 25% Number

I just had to ask, and he answered. Yesterday I blogged about how I was stunned by the mayor claiming that 25% of people who are homeless are from Madison, because the number is much higher. So . . .

I asked:

from: Brenda Konkel
to: psoglin, Anne Monks, “Iheukumere, Astra”, “Miley, Sally”
date: Tue, Oct 2, 2012 at 5:30 PM
subject: OK – you stumped us all

Where are you getting this 25% number from regarding the number of homeless that are from Madison. The Homeless Consortium met today and we have no idea what you are talking about because it is over 50% for all populations and that number is increasing. That’s what our statistics are showing.

He explained:

from: Soglin, Paul
to: Brenda Konkel
date: Tue, Oct 2, 2012 at 5:48 PM
subject: RE: OK – you stumped us all
A CDBG study showed that between 41% and 59% of various homeless, upon intake reported a Madison address within the past two years. The remainder gave a non-Madison Dane County, other county or out of state address.

Of those who reported a Madison address as their last permanent address, many spent most of their adult life elsewhere, came to Madison may have acquired a Madison address for a while and them become homeless again. I am estimating that as half the group that falls into the 41-59%, thus 25%.

Ok, I don’t buy it. He was guessing and I think he guessed quite wrong. The trend is going in the other direction. I would ask again, am I worthy? Am I a Madisonian? Half my life I lived somewhere else, but I lived here 21 years.

If you look at the report, you will find the following:

Over half of all single men (59%) and single women (56%) report their last permanent residence prior to homelessness was in Madison; 48% of families with children reported a Madison address. Compared to 2010, all homeless households reported a higher percentage of Madison residences. Homeless families with children are the most likely of homeless households served to have moved from outside of Dane County.

And

Single homeless men are the most likely to have reported living in Dane County for 2 or more years. Comparing data in the first six months of 2011 to previous years, the trend indicates an increase in residency for homeless single men and a decrease in longevity for both homeless single women and families with children.

And remember, these are answers form people who are getting services, there are many more who are not.