Statement of Purpose ....

Over 400 homeless children in Denton County

A recent homeless count revealed 452 children experiencing homelessness in Denton County.  The Denton County Homeless Coalition conducted the count on March 2, 2004 with the aid of community organizations, local governments, school districts, Texas Women’s University, and the University of North Texas. 

• 162 children homeless in Denton 

• 123 children homeless in Carrollton (Denton County portion)

• 154 children homeless in Lewisville 

• 3 children homeless in Lake Dallas

• 10 children homeless in Sanger

• The total count found 659 homeless persons with 541 in families with children under the age of 18.

In Denton County, of the 648 homeless persons counted a large number, 424, are sharing housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason; are living in motels, hotels, trailer parks (campers, not mobile homes) or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations, migrant or were children abandoned in hospitals or awaiting foster care placement.   The remaining 224 homeless persons counted were in an emergency shelter, housing program, or unsheltered.

Of the 648 homeless persons in Denton County, 350 were located in the City of Denton. In Denton, 143, were sharing housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship or a similar reason; e living in motels, hotels, trailer parks (campers, not mobile homes) or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations, migrant s or children abandoned in hospitals or awaiting foster care placement.   Of the remaining 207 homeless persons counted 32 were in an emergency shelter, 158 were in housing program, and 17 were unsheltered.

March 2, 2004 Denton County Homeless Count

Street, Shelter, Housing Program, and Forced Shared Housing Numbers  

Martha Burt, a leading expert on homeless counts, estimates suburban areas like Denton County have an average of 8.6 persons per 10,000 residents who are in an emergency shelter, housing program or are unsheltered.  According to Burt’s estimate, Denton County Homeless Count located 50% or 224 of the 455 persons expected to be in an emergency shelter, in a housing program, or unsheltered on any given day. According to the National Coalition on Homelessness, lack of affordable housing and limited housing assistance programs are the primary causes of homelessness in the United States.

Estimated Number of Homeless in Denton County

 Estimated Number of Homeless and those At-Risk in Denton Count
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Other resources within the Denton County Homeless Coalition website:                                                      

• List of Coalition Members
• DCHC Steering Committee Members
• Minutes of Homeless Coalition Meetings
• Overview of Continuum of Care Funding
• Volunteer Information