Homelessness on the decline nationwide, not in some area shelters

Lehigh Valley figures show an opposite trend, with a 25 percent rise in homeless households reported between 2010 and 2013.

A new federal estimate of homelessness finds a decline since 2010, but Lehigh Valley figures show an opposite trend.

A report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, titled "2013 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress" and released this month, finds the number of homeless individuals and families dropped from 468,295 three years ago to 439,101. That's for all states, territories, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.

The department says 2010 was the year the federal government established a strategic plan to end homelessness. The new report "finds significant and measurable progress to reduce the scale of long-term or ‘chronic’ homelessness as well as homelessness experienced by veterans and families," it states.

The report uses point-in-time surveys conducted each January.

In the department's report for Allentown and the surrounding region, homeless individuals and families increased from 728 in 2010 to 907 in 2013, an increase of about 25 percent.

The region covering Hunterdon, Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey saw a nearly 40 percent decrease from 449 in 2010 to 271 in 2013, according to the report, but the 2013 figure represents an increase from 230 in 2012.

Local shelters in the Lehigh Valley and northwest New Jersey said earlier this fall they are often unable to accommodate all of the people who seek refuge. At Easton's Safe Harbor, case manager Jennifer Collins said the shelter is at capacity every day.

At Sixth Street Shelter in Allentown, demand hasn't changed much since last year, said Jessica Dreistadt, program director. The waiting list fluctuates between 40 and 120 families throughout the year and there are currently 90 families on the list, she said.

"The trend has not reversed at all, but we haven't seen a greater demand" she said.