By CRAIG FREILICH

Mental illness, chronic substance abuse, unemployment, and not enough money are the main reasons people are homeless in St. Lawrence County.

Of the 566 homeless individuals in St. Lawrence, Jefferson and Lewis counties, 198 or 35 percent were severely mentally ill, according to a survey conducted in January.

Chronic substance abusers made up 26 percent, or 147 individuals.

Of the 566, 136 – about one-quarter of them – were found to be chronically homeless.

Eight people, or 1 percent, were victims of domestic violence.

The survey, commissioned by the Points North Housing Coalition, involved more than 150 local organizations.

Of the 245 homeless surveyed who were from St. Lawrence County, 20 percent said they had no income; 28 percent reported some earned income; 25 percent said they were getting Social Security or disability benefits; 22 percent were getting temporary benefits from social services; about 12 percent said they were receiving alimony or child support.

Fewer than 5 percent each said they got some money from panhandling, a pension, relatives and friends, veterans’ benefits, workman’s compensation, or unemployment insurance.

Asked about non-cash benefits received the month before, 68 percent said they received SNAP benefits; 60 percent were on Medicaid; more than 20 percent were helped by food pantries; and fewer than 20 percent received help from Medicare, housing or heating assistance, bus vouchers and other programs.

In St. Lawrence County, more than 80 percent surveyed said they were unemployed. About 10 percent said they were employed full time. About 8 percent worked part-time. A few worked as day laborers.

Of the 127 in St. Lawrence County who cited housing-related reasons for their homelessness, 31 people, or 24 percent, said a temporary living arrangement ended; 27, or 21 percent, said they had been released from a hospital or jail; 15, or 12 percent, said they were evicted for non-payment of rent, and 20, or 16 percent, said they had been evicted for another reason.

Of the 131 people in St. Lawrence County who said they were homeless due to financial reasons, 56, or 43 percent, said they were unemployed or had lost a job; 42, or 32 percent, said they did not receive enough income to meet their needs; and 23, or 18 percent, said there were no jobs available. Six percent said their welfare benefits ended; one individual said no childcare was available, and one chose not to work.

Of the 137 people in the county who said there were health- or family-related reasons for their homelessness, 42, or 31 percent, said there were alcohol or drug problems; 31, or 23 percent, said mental health or emotional problems were at least partly to blame; 21, or 15 percent, said there were physical health of medical problems; another 21, or 15 percent, said a breakup, divorce, separation or death was a cause; 16, or 12 percent, said they were escaping abuse or domestic violence. Five individuals, or one percent, were ordered by a court or police to leave their homes, and one individual left or ran away from home.