What does this measure?
The prevalence of homelessness, expressed as a measure of homeless persons per 10,000 residents.
Why is this important?
The prevalence of homelessness can be an indicator of a community's ability to provide stable jobs that pay a living wage, adequate support for the unemployed, affordable housing and accessible health care. Homelessness is related to larger issues such as poverty, employment, mental health, substance abuse, and family violence. The way a community cares for its more vulnerable citizens can also be a marker of collaboration and social support systems.
How is our county performing?
Worcester County had a rate of 15 homeless persons per 10,000 residents in 2022, below the state rate of 22 and national rate of 17. The County's rate was down from a high of 22 in 2014 and 2018 but is similar to the 2021 rate of 14.
Notes about the data
It is very difficult to obtain an exact count of homeless persons, due to transience and limited resources for record-keeping. Data for this indicator are released annually in October.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester City & County CoC | 16.5 | 16.3 | 17.6 | 17.6 | 16.4 | 19.5 | 20.4 | 22.0 | 20.6 | 19.2 | 18.3 | 22.3 | 19.2 | 16.3 | 13.9 | 14.8 |
| Massachusetts | 23.5 | 22.4 | 23.8 | 25.4 | 25.2 | 26.3 | 28.3 | 31.4 | 31.1 | 28.7 | 25.6 | 29.2 | 26.8 | 25.6 | 21.6 | 22.2 |
Notes: Rate is per 10,000 residents. Figures represent point-in-time counts. A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals.
| 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester City & County CoC | 1,302 | 1,291 | 1,397 | 1,409 | 1,315 | 1,572 | 1,657 | 1,796 | 1,682 | 1,572 | 1,507 | 1,852 | 1,593 | 1,401 | 1,196 | 1,277 |
| Massachusetts | 15,127 | 14,506 | 15,482 | 16,646 | 16,664 | 17,501 | 19,029 | 21,237 | 21,135 | 19,608 | 17,565 | 20,068 | 18,471 | 17,975 | 15,079 | 15,507 |
Notes: Figures represent point-in-time counts. A Continuum of Care (CoC) is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals.
