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Counting the Tip of the Iceberg: Homeless Street Counts

From Sarah Elzas | 00:04:46
Producers: Sarah Elzas

Credit:
3.5 million Americans are homeless. How do we know this?

We've all heard the numbers: 3.5 million people are homeless in the US, more than a third of whom are children. In New York City on any given night, 38,000 people are without permanent shelter. How do we know this?

This piece looks at how New York city counts its most precariously housed inhabitants. New York has been recognized for having some of the most sophisticated counting methods in the country. Through an annual city-wide count and more frequent community counts, the city's Department of Homeless Services has a pretty good sense of who is on the street. Hopefully, knowledge of the numbers can inform solutions.

This piece was produced for the 2006 Homelessness Marathon. Hide full description

We've all heard the numbers: 3.5 million people are homeless in the US, more than a third of whom are children. In New York City on any given night, 38,000 people are without permanent shelter. How do we know this? This piece looks at how New York city counts its most precariously housed inhabitants. New York has been recognized for having some of the most sophisticated counting methods in the country. Through an annual city-wide count and more frequent community counts, the city's Department of Homeless Services has a pretty good sense of who is on the street. Hopefully, knowledge of the numbers can inform solutions. This piec...
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Katie Britton

Posted on February 27, 2006 at 04:23 AM | Permalink

Review of Counting the Tip of the Iceberg: Homeless Street Counts

The piece has good natural sound. Elzas takes you on NYC's annual homeless count, which gives you a better look, intead of just throwing numbers at the listener. Good for a B or C segment.

Broadcast History

Aired nationally 2/15/06 on The Homelessness Marathon

Transcript

SUGGESTED HOST INTRO:
It's hard to address a problem if you don't have information about it. Homelessness is a pervasive problem in the United States. But how do we know how widespread it is? We count. New York city keeps a daily census of its homeless population, and estimates that 38,000 people are without permanent shelter on any given night. The city also conducts a yearly street count, to track progress in fighting street homelessness. Independent producer Sarah Elzas reports.

NARRATOR: ABOUT 3.5 MILLION AMERICANS ARE HOMELESS. WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE SLEEPING ON CHURCH STEPS OR UNDER HIGHWAY OVERPASSES, YOU'RE SEEING ONLY ONE PART OF THE PROBLEM:

SHINN: Folks on the street are the visible tip of the iceberg.

NARRATOR: BETH SHINN IS PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AND PUBLIC POLICY AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY. SHE HAS DEVOTED MUCH OF HER PROFESSIONAL LIFE TO STUDYING HOMELESSNESS.

SHINN...
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