Findings Issued on Homeless Survey

More than half of those interviewed in a recent survey of the homeless said they had become homeless while living in Ventura County.

Out of 264 homeless people interviewed, 68% said they had lost their permanent shelter while living in the county, the survey found. And 53% said finding a job or getting into a job-training program were their top priorities.

But among the most surprising survey results was that only 37% of those interviewed said they had received some form of public assistance, said Karol Schulkin of the Ventura County Homeless Services Program.

“The general public’s assumption is that homeless people are a drain on the welfare system,” she said. “But this particular population is not.”

The survey, conducted simultaneously at the seven emergency shelters Feb. 25, was performed by county social service workers and volunteers of the Ventura County Homeless Coalition.

Information gathered from the survey will be used to determine what services are most needed, Schulkin said. The results also can be used to help seek grants to fund those services, she said.