On any given day in the County of Riverside, the estimate of homeless adults ranges from 2,500 to 8,100. The total number surveyed was 1,091, which is 20.6% of the mid-range amount of 5,300 of all homeless people in the County of Riverside.

Key Findings-Primary Causes of Homelessness.

Domestic Violence

• 40.1% of all surveyed experienced domestic violence of some sort.

Duration of Homelessness.

• 14.8% were homeless for (5) years or more/7.1% homeless for (10) years or more.

Education.

• 66.6% completed High School.

Family History

• 87.4% were single.
• 42.6% have children under the age of 18 years old.
• 34.9% have children living with them.

Children

• 79.7% under 12, 11.4% 1yr. of age or younger.

Foster Care

• 11.2% are in the foster care system.
• 33% became homeless while in the foster care system.
• 25% became homeless upon discharge from the foster care system.

Mainstream Resources

• 41.7% were receiving 1 or more of the public assistance benefits
• Med-Cal and food Stamps-19.3% and 16.6% respectively.

Physical Assault

• 22.2% experienced assault while living on the streets
• 20.7% of which was sexual, the other 79.3% was physical
• 72.7% experience some sort of violence while living on the streets.

Residency

• 7% consider a city or community in Riverside County to be their home.
• 67.2% were residents of cities and communities in Riverside County.  

This assessemernt was conducted by the Jefferson Transitional Program.  Project TOUCH has shared these statistics to increase our knowledge of the seriousness of homelessness and why Dollar Days for the homeless is extremely important.