(Contra Costa County, California) In the past, I've questioned the methods used to estimate homeless populations, thinking that they mostly were gross exaggerations (see The Five Laws of Homelessness). Consequently, it was enlightening to see the following:
An independent count pegged the number of "desperate homeless" in Contra Costa at 7,500 to 8,500. Factoring in those who bunk on friend's couches or sleep in cars, the number swells to around 15,000....So, it appears the process consists of "independent counters" estimating a range of total homeless which is then multiplied by a "couches and cars" factor.
This doesn't change my thinking that homeless populations are grossly exaggerated and the explanation provided seems to be a reckless use of arithmetic. Interestingly, Contra Costa County has historically had difficulty counting the homeless. Back in the 1990s, homeless advocates couldn't decide whether there were 13,000 or 20,000 vagrants in the county.
The simple fact that homeless estimates are all over the place is my primary basis for being skeptical of any numbers. Also, there's the census conducted by the city of Chicago where the actual number of homeless found was more than 70,000 less than estimated.
No comments:
Post a Comment