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THE HOMES OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY
PLANNING ISSUE
Providing housing for the
county’s most vulnerable puts
a roof over people’s heads, as
well as provides stability and
raises morale. But finding
suitable locations for this
housing is not always easy
when faced with decreasing
funding sources and
community opposition.
What’s New
•
Montgomery County’s new
Roadmap for Housing
Sustainability
outlines a new way of thinking when it
comes to providing housing for the county’s most
vulnerable residents. This new strategy seeks to re-
house families and individuals at a minimal cost, by
providing assistance locating new housing, short-term
rental assistance, and follow-up case management.
Residents can remain in a more stable situation when
housing is provided “first”—helping to prevent
homelessness when possible. Along with the county’s
desire to rethink the way it provides social services,
Your Way Home Montgomery County
was launched—
a new partnership among the county, local
philanthropic organizations, and non-profits—to end
homelessness and housing instability in the county.
•
The Point in Time Survey (PIT), conducted annually
by the MCHC Homeless Action Team, reported (in
January 2012) 419 homeless people, 271 of whom
were adults with children living in shelters and
transitional housing. This is an increase over the
numbers seen in 2010 and 2011. There were 23 single
individuals who were unsheltered on the night of the
survey. A follow up count in August 2012 found 393
homeless people, a drop from the winter count, but an
increase in the number of unsheltered homeless
individuals (66 people total).
•
Montgomery County’s Homeless Prevention Center
started in 2010 and provides assistance to residents
who are homeless or at risk for homelessness. This
centralized phone screening service provides
assessment specialists who conduct an initial
screening and then refer consumers to housing or
homeless provider agencies or resources. Information
is also available regarding shelters for individuals and
families; food pantries; substance abuse and
behavioral health resources; developmental disabilities
resources; rental and utility assistance.
Existing Housing Totals
Housing Characteristics
Housing Costs and Affordability
Senior Housing
Group Homes and Special
Needs Housing
Jobs-Housing Balance
Future Housing Demand
Group Homes and Special Needs Housing
Some residents of Montgomery County struggle to live
independently—and there are programs in place to provide
assistance in a variety of situations.
Homelessness should not be thought of as an urban problem,
as plenty of people in this county lack a permanent home
and may find themselves sharing space with family or
friends to avoid losing shelter completely. The county’s
Continuum of Care system, led by the Montgomery County
Housing Coalition (MCHC), oversees homelessness
outreach and involves dozens of non-profits, government
agencies, and other organizations.
There are a variety of shelter and housing facilities available
to the county’s homeless population. There are 195 year-
round emergency shelter beds in 10 facilities in the county,
the majority of which are for the use of households with
children in either Norristown or Pottstown. There are 11
transitional housing developments with 232 beds for
households with children and an additional 34 beds for
single adults. Some of these facilities are for victims of
domestic violence and their children. There are ten
developments with 155 permanent supportive housing beds
in the county. Fifty-eight of those beds are targeted for the
chronically homeless. The county’s Office of Behavioral
Health/Development Disabilities is a major provider of
permanent supportive housing, owning and operating 40
beds for households without children.
People with disabilities, either mental or physical, may also
need specialized housing. There are residential options for
residents with physical or emotional difficulties, with a
significant amount of services concentrated in Norristown.
In 2011, the U.S. Census reported that the county had just
over 70,000 civilian disabled non-institutionalized residents,
representing about 9% of the civilian non-institutionalized
population. The disabled institutionalized population, which
is in addition to the above total, includes residents of nursing
homes, psychiatric hospitals, and schools for the mentally
retarded. Forty-two percent of the disabled population that
is age 18 and over is classified as having an “independent
living difficulty” - which is indicative of the need for
housing solutions for the disabled.
