During the Montgomery County 100,000 HOMES Campaign Registry Week in early November, hundreds of volunteers answered the call and participated in a variety of activities, including canvassing the County and surveying 369 homeless individuals.
Teams canvassed the streets, woods and shelters, and covered "hot spots" in Rockville, Aspen Hill, Gaithersburg, Germantown, White Flint, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Wheaton, Glenmont, Langley Park, Chevy Chase, Hillandale and White Oak. Volunteer teams captured data on health conditions, hospitalizations, length of homelessness, etc.
The results, reported at a community debriefing in mid-November, attended by the County Executive, County Councilmembers and local organizations, included the following findings about the local homeless poopulation:
- Average age was 45.6 years
- 47% reported at least one serious health condition—of this group, 74% were medically vulnerable
- 22% of those surveyed received inpatient emergency room treatment at least three times last year -- of those identified as medically vulnerable, more than 50% received inpatient treatment at least three times last year
- 31 individuals reported having veterans status
- 26% of those surveyed were victims of violent attacks while experiencing homelessness
