LAS VEGAS (AP) - Southern Nevada’s homeless population has grown to levels not seen since 2011, although it’s still well below the recent peak from 2009, Clark County officials announced Thursday.
A total of 9,417 homeless people were counted during a point-in-time census that took place over two days in January. That’s up 28 percent from the 2013 count, which registered 7,355 people on the streets.
“Obviously we would like to see the number of homeless decrease every year, but unfortunately that is not the reality we are faced with,” said Tim Burch, director of the Clark County Department of Social Service. “It appears that we are seeing the lingering effects of a sluggish economy and the toll that takes on our most vulnerable citizens.”
Similar increases were reported in cities including Reno, Seattle, Boston and New York.
More than 300 people fanned out across the Las Vegas area for the point-in-time count, which is required by the federal government and helps determine how much grant funding the area gets.
The survey found an increase in the number of homeless people who reported that they were victims of domestic violence, had mental health issues or struggled with substance abuse.
An estimated 36,718 people experienced homelessness at least once during the past year, officials said.
While the numbers signaled a setback in the effort to end homelessness in southern Nevada, they were an improvement from the depths of the recession.
A count in January 2009 found more than 13,338 people were homeless, and officials estimated 52,458 people had experience homelessness at least once during the year prior to the count.
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