DENVER-
Up to 5,200 children and teenagers were homeless the night of Aug. 28, according to final figures released Monday of a summer survey of homelessness in Colorado.
More than 400 agencies, churches, nonprofit groups and volunteers in the state’s 64 counties helped compile the figures, which found a minimum of 11,890 people and an estimated total of 16,203 homeless people in the state, according to the Colorado Division of Housing.
Of that figure, state officials estimated one-third to be children and teenagers.
Kathi Williams, director of the division, in a statement said the report will help the state develop a plan to address the problem.
Officials previously released the 11,890 figure, but updated that to include some 2,981 unsheltered people, victims of domestic violence and others that relatives identified as homeless.
The count conducted in August provided a one-day snapshot of the problem in the summer, with another one-day count in January. Results of the winter survey are expected in May.
The study counted people living in shelters, transitional housing, staying with family or friends, or living outside.
The most common reasons for homelessness were housing-related costs, loss of a job, or having one or more serious disabling condition, with each being cited 26 percent of the time.
Besides being used by the state to address the problem, the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department is also awaiting the survey as it decides how to distribute nearly $15 million in housing and shelter assistance in Colorado.
Before last summer’s count, the last previous survey was in 1988 and found 3,367. It was done by the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
