Homeless Women in the City of Pasadena, IURD

for more information please go to http://www.iurd.org

Please refer your questions to the Director at: joecolletti@earthlink.net

Homeless Women

In The City of Pasadena

Data & Issues

A Preliminary Report

Prepared By

The Pasadena Housing and Homeless Network

February, 1999

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Several individuals helped in the administration of the survey and the preparation of this report. They are:

Dia Anthony, AIDS Service Center

Tevis Barnes, City of Pasadena/Department of Housing and Development;

Frank Clark, Ecumenical Council of the Pasadena Area Churches;

John Depew, City of Pasadena/Department of Housing and Development

Eunice Gray, City of Pasadena/Department of Housing and Development;

Marv Gross, Union Station Foundation;

James Heard, Eaton Canyon Foundation;

Maria Isenberg, Pasadena Senior Center;

Larry Johnson, Union Station Foundation;

Desmond Parrington, Institute for Urban Research and Development;

Ron Stewart, Passageways/Pacific Clinics

Al Sorkin, Ph.D., Urban Revitalization Development Corporation

This report was edited by Joseph Colletti, Ph.D., Institute for Urban Research and Development, 980 N. Fair Oaks Avenue. Pasadena, CA 91103. Copies of this report please may be obtained by contacting him at the above address or by phone at 626.794.3400. A copy of the report may also be obtained by printing it from the following web site - www.pasadenaresearch.com.

I. KEY FINDINGS

A. TRENDS

1. There has been a significant increase of homeless women during this current decade. The 1992 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey revealed that women made up 15% of the homeless population. The 1998 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey reveals that women presently make up 34% of the homeless population;

2. There has been a significant increase of homeless African American women during this current decade. The 1992 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey revealed that African American women consisted of 17% of the African American homeless population; the 1998 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey reveals that African American women how consist of 39% of the African American homeless population representing an increase of more than 100%;

3. There has been a significant increase of homeless Latina women during this current decade. The 1992 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey revealed that Latinas consisted of 13% of the Latino homeless population; the 1998 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey reveals that Latinas how consist of 27% of the Latino homeless population representing an increase of more than 100%;

4. If the current trend continues African American homeless women will outnumber African American homeless men. Historically, each ethnic group always had a significant number of more homeless men than women;

B. RESIDENCY

5. Homeless women are overwhelmingly United States citizens. One hundred percent (100%) of African American women and White women were born in the United States and approximately 73% of Latinas were born in the United States;

6. A majority (55.6%) of homeless women first became homeless while living in Pasadena. Nearly two-thirds (62.3%) of African American women first became homeless while living in Pasadena; more than half (53.3%) of Latinas; and 40% of White women;

7. Two-thirds (67%) of homeless women consider Pasadena as their home city. Approximately 72% of African American women consider Pasadena as their home city; two-thirds (66.7%) of Latinas; and more than half (55%) of White women;

KEY FINDINGS (con't)

8. Nearly one-third (32.9%) of homeless women were homeless for 30 days or less; 25% of homeless women were homeless more than 1 year;

INCOME

9. Only eight percent (8%) of homeless women were employed;

10. More than three-fourths (78.4%) of homeless women were receiving public assistance. Approximately 85% of African American women were receiving public assistance; more than half (53.3%) of Latinas; and 80% of White women;

HEALTH

11. Twenty percent (20.4%) of homeless women have a physical disability that impairs activities such as walking, eating, breathing, reading, etc.;

12. Nearly four out of five (73.8%) homeless women were in need of dental assistance;

DRUG USE

13. Nearly two-thirds (62.5%) of homeless women were currently using, or have used, alcohol and/or drugs;

EDUCATION

14. Only 42% of homeless women graduated from high school;

II. Background

A comparison of the 1992 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey and the 1998 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey reveals a significant shift in the gender make up of the city's homeless population during this current decade. Table 1 states that the percentage of women increased from 15% in 1992 to 34% in 1998.

Table 1. Comparison by Gender:

Source	% of Women	% of Men	% of Total
1992 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey	15	85	100
1998 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey	34	66	100

Table 2 reveals the changes in ethnicity during this current decade.

	1992 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey	1998 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey
African Americans	40%	47%
Whites	37%	27%
Latinos	13%	19%
Native Americans	4%	4%
Asian/Pacific Islanders	1%	1%
Others	5%	2%

What is most notable is the increase in the percentage of African Americans and Latinos and the decrease among Whites. African Americans, who already represented the majority of homeless persons in 1992, increased by 7% during the past six years. Latinos also significantly increased (6%) during the same period of time. Native Americans and Asian/Pacific Islanders remained the same.

Table 3. Comparison of Ethnicity/Gender:

	1992 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey	1998 City of Pasadena Homeless Survey
African American Women	17%	39%
African American Men	83%	61%
Total:	100%	100%
White Women	21%	26%
White Men	79%	74%
Total:	100%	100%
Latinas	13%	27%
Latinos	87%	73%
Total:	100%	100%

Table 3 provides information concerning ethnicity and gender by disclosing the breakdowns of the three largest ethnic groups by gender. As previously noted, the percentage of men has decreased while the percentage for women increased. Each group of women did increase during the current decade. The largest increases were among African American women and Latinas. The percentages for each group more than doubled.

III. Selected Questions:

The following tables represent the responses from African American, Latina, and White women to selected questions from the survey. These questions are grouped under the following categories: a) geo-history; b) income; and c) health care.

A. Geo-History

Table 1. In What Country Where You Born?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
United States	53	100.0	11	73.3	20	100.0
Other Country	00	0.0	04	26.7	0	0.0
Total:	53	100.0	15	100.0	20	100.0

Table 2. In What City Did You First Become Homeless?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Pasadena	33	62.3	8	53.3	8	40.0
Other City	20	37.7	7	46.7	12	60.0
Total:	53	100.0	15	100.0	20	100.0

Table 3. What City Do You Consider To Be Your Home?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Pasadena	38	71.7	10	66.7	11	55.0
Other City	15	28.3	5	33.3	09	45.0
Total:	53	100.0	15	100.0	20	100.0

Table 4. How Long Have You Been Homeless?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
30 Days Or Less	16	30.2	07	46.7	06	30.0
More Than 30 Days - 6 Months	14	26.4	04	26.6	06	30.0
More Than 6 Months - 1 Year	10	18.8	01	06.7	02	10.0
More Than 1 Year	13	24.6	03	20.0	06	30.0
Total:	53	100.0	15	100.0	20	100.0

B. Income

Table 5. Do You Have A Part-Time Or A Full-Time Job?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Part-Time	2	3.8	2	1.3	0	0.0
Full-Time	1	1.9	0	0.0	2	10.0
N:	53		15		20

Table 6. Do You Receive Any Of The Following Monthly Incomes?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
AFDC/TANF	10	18.7	4	26.6	1	5.0
Social Security - Retirement (age 62+)	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	5.0
Social Security - Disability	2	3.8	0	0.0	4	20.0
General Relief	31	58.4	4	26.6	11	55.0
Unemployment	1	1.9	0	0.0	1	5.0
Veterans Benefits	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	10.0
Food Stamps	26	49.1	7	46.7	8	40.0
Medi-Cal	7	13.2	3	20.0	3	15.0
Medicare/Medicaid	0	0.0	0	0.0	2	10.0
Union Pension	1	1.9	0	0.0	1	5.0
	N=53		N=15		N=20

C. Health Care

Table 7. Do You Need Dental Care?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Yes	37	69.8	14	93.3	14	70.0
No	16	30.2	1	6.7	06	30.0
Total:	53	100.0	15	100.0	20	100.0

Table 8. Do You Have A Physical Disability That Impairs Any Activities Such As Walking, Eating, Breathing, Reading, Etc.?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Yes	7	13.2	4	26.7	7	35.0
No	46	86.8	11	73.3	13	65.0
Total:	53	100.0	15	100.0	20	100.0

D. Drug History

Table 9. Do You Now Use, Or Have You Ever Used, Alcohol And/Or Other Drugs?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Yes	34	64.2	10	66.7	11	55.0
No	19	35.8	5	33.3	09	45.0
Total:	53	100.0	15	100.0	20	100.0

E. Education

Table 10. Did You Graduate From High School?

	African American		Latina		White
	#	%	#	%	#	%
Yes	19	35.8	06	40.0	12	60.0
No	34	64.2	09	60.0	08	40.0
Total:	53	100.0	15	100.0	20	100.0

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