I’ve been thinking about the Zero:2016 campaign, and considering what it would take to get us to zero. I note that, for Springfield, that’s the goal we set in 2007 with our 10-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.
Because the configuration of the CoCs has changed, I have not been tracking the progress that Springfield has made toward ending chronic homelessness lately. In 2007, we were tracking Springfield data, and in 2012, we shifted to Hampden County data.
Today I checked on our Springfield progress, and I’m excited to report that, over a 7 year period, we (well, more accurately, you) have reduced chronic homelessness among individuals by 64%, as measured at the point-in-time count. That’s awesome. The 2007 PIT count identified 149 chronically homeless individuals in the City; in 2014, the number was 54.
Can we reach zero in 2016? I think we can.
