Contact: Jeremy Reynalds, Joy Junction, 505-400-7145, jeremyreynalds@comcast.net

MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 10 /Christian Newswire/ -- "When the warning light on a car dashboard goes on, it is an indication that perhaps you need more oil or water. You can ignore the light or destroy it, and while the warning has disappeared, nothing has been done to fix the underlying problem. It appears that the bureaucrats are tackling the issue of homelessness in the same way - except instead of smashing lights they're waving a magic wand and altering the parameters of what constitutes homelessness."

Recently released data have some government officials bragging that homelessness is declining.

United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Executive Director Philip Mangano said, "The numbers ... show we are on track to meet the Administration's goal of ending chronic homelessness. (They) are the numbers we've been waiting to see for 30 years - a decrease in homelessness for our most vulnerable and disabled neighbors, living on our streets, languishing in our shelters, those experiencing chronic homelessness."

The numbers to which Mangano was referring are contained in a HUD report. They appear to indicate that the nation's chronically homeless population fell from 155,623 in 2006 to 123,833 in 2007. And overall homeless numbers, taken from a one-day national count in January, were down 12% from 2005 to 2007, to just under 672,000 people

Capitalizing on these statistics, a July 29 statement released by the White House Press Office said, "At the beginning of his Administration, President Bush set a goal to end chronic homelessness in America. Today, Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary (Steve) Preston reported that the Administration has continued to make progress on this goal."

Preston said, "We can all be encouraged that we're making progress in reducing chronic street homelessness in America and with more resources and better reporting, we can continue this trend . . ."

But are we making progress?

In my experience, the opposite is true. Joy Junction Homeless Shelter has seen a tremendous increase in the last few years of the number of people needing its services - from 150 to about 300 people each night.

While a rosy picture is painted by the government of the current homeless picture, not mentioned is that the authors stress the limitations of the report data, including possible low client coverage (when some of those participating only included a portion of their clients), and possible low bed coverage (occurring when not all homeless assistance providers participated).

And there are tremendous difficulties involved in getting an accurate count of homeless individuals living on the streets. I would say that with a one night count, accuracy is practically impossible. For a better picture, there would need to be a number of street counts.

A July 30 story in Time magazine further explained the apparently lower number of homeless.

Time said the new data is "the result of an ongoing effort to more narrowly define who is actually considered homeless. This is the third annual national HUD count, and in previous years, some cities had been counting families who were living two families to an apartment, for example, or those living in RV's, as homeless. This year, they weren't. This count, say the report's authors, is the most successful to date in tallying only those who were actually in shelters or on the streets -- the official HUD definition of a homeless person."

Michael Stoops, the acting executive director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, told me by e-mail, "We think this is a 'spin' on the part of the government. Our network tells us that homelessness/poverty is increasing. Yet, the government says that homelessness and chronic homelessness is down."

Time reported that HUD's Preston did advise caution, saying in a recent release that there is a "long way to go to find a more lasting solution for those struggling with homelessness every day."

I agree with Preston on at least that count.

Time said that where housing advocates and the government disagree is whether a family of four who lost their home to the bank, and is now living with relatives, should be considered homeless.

Time had an interesting answer about why such families were kept out of the count.

"It's partially about the power of positive thinking," the magazine reported. "The number crunchers leading the federal fight believe that as long as Americans continue to perceive homelessness as an implacable problem, they'll never muster the will to help. But if the government can show that the numbers are actually relatively small -- like the 125,000 chronic homeless they are now counting -- then the public might just be up for tackling the issue."

The idea is ridiculous, and compare it to someone ignoring or smashing a warning light on a car dashboard.

When the warning light goes on, it is an indication that perhaps you need more oil or water. You can ignore the light or destroy it, and while the warning has disappeared, nothing has been done to fix the underlying problem. It appears that the bureaucrats are tackling the issue of homelessness in the same way - except instead of smashing lights they're waving a magic wand and altering the parameters of what constitutes homelessness.

Combine the limitations of the data with the government's apparent unwillingness to even admit the extent of the problem and there's no cause for rejoicing. We should be weeping.

For more information go to www.joyjunction.org or contact Jeremy Reynalds at (505) 400-7145