Barrier islands like the Chandeleur Islands are constantly building, eroding, and shifting under the normal actions of wind and waves. A powerful storm like Katrina can produce changes that otherwise may have taken many years, and most of the changes seen here are probably the result of Katrina.
California experienced the largest decline in the number of people experiencing homelessness, 25,034 fewer since 2007. Other states with large declines included Texas (11,293 fewer people), Florida (6,527), New Jersey (5,643), and Oregon (5,426).
Santa Cruz County's homeless population overwhelmingly lives on the street, in vehicles or is otherwise unsheltered, with four in five lacking a roof over their heads. Most (68 percent) were living in Santa Cruz County when they became homeless, and a strong majority (59 percent) had been living here ten or more years.