United Way Peterborough point-in-time survey shows sharp rise in homelessness

According to United Way Peterborough and District, according to the most recent point in time (PiT) counts,the homeless are at crisis level in Peterborough, Ontario. has reached

The twice-yearly count involved his team of 50 volunteers surveying the city from 10am to 6pm. On December 9, 2021, we will examine people experiencing homelessness and the issues they face, including addiction, access to services, and more.

Officials warn that the data is a "snapshot" of homelessness and does not reflect the city's full picture or current situation.

Full report available online.

READ MORE: Homeless list by name in Peterborough up 30% compared to 2021

On the day of the event, 176 people participated in the survey of 204 people who approached. On the same day, 288 of him were registered on the city's list by name (BNL). BNL identifies people experiencing homelessness (with consent) and provides real-time updates to profile their history, health status, andhousing needs. In May 2022, the city reported that as of April 2022 he had 317 people on his BNL.

Of his 176 respondents at one point in time, 84% It was between ages. 6% were over 65 years old and 10% were classified as young people between the ages of 16 and he 24 years old. About 27% of respondents identified as indigenous reported that he experienced homelessness 48 more days than non-indigenous respondents.

That night, 46% of the respondents said they were staying in the shelter, compared to 27% who said they were outside and 20% who said they were unsure of their whereabouts.

The report found that for every 2 of her experiencing chronic homelessness staying in a shelter, 3 experienced chronic homelessness, and that she was living without shelter. Pointing out that you are asleep.

"People matter, so numbers matter," said Jim Russell, his CEO of United Way. "These are our numbers, these are our people. This is a snapshot of homelessness in our community and a situation that needs to change."

Rough living (sleeping outside) increased 350% compared to 2018 to 47  December 2021 9 days, previously from 6 people. Only four were listed in 2016.

In 2021, 27% of respondents were living rough lives.

United Way Counts Coordinator Kelly Kitley attributes this, in part, to more volunteers reaching out to individuals, but there has been a sharp increase in the availability of shelters. One of the main factors, she points out.

"There are fewer shelters, so more people are living outside," she said. “And then there is the enormous housing and affordable housing crisis that this population is currently experiencing.”

report that follows also mentions chronic homelessness, defined as six months, out of 180 days last year, a 45% increase from the 2018 PiT count. did. About 71% of respondents report experiencing chronic homelessness.

Kailey said that 44% of her respondents said she had been homeless for 12 months. About five of her respondents, she said, did not know where to sleep on the night of the PiT count.

One of her jumping numbers for Kailey was that 4% of her respondents had children.

"This is a total of 14 children in seven (single-parent) families," she said. “We are concerned that women and children are becoming homeless. Peterborough needs more space so that women and children can access the services they need.”

The report also noted that 10% of those surveyed had stayed in Peterborough for less than a year, down from 20% reported in 2018.

about people being drawn to Peterborough [for its services]," Kightley said.

``You can see people experiencing homelessness.

Kailey noted that the city's opioid crisis is affecting the marginalized homeless. She said 69% of respondents had been under the influence of drugs, either directly or with her loved ones,[168] according to the report. More than three-quarters of her Indigenous respondents reported being affected by drug addiction.

34 respondents cited material problems as a reason for homelessness.

READ MORE: Mayors, Police and Business Seek Ontario for Homelessness, Opioid Crisis Help

Christian Harvey and OneCity Peterborough, an agency that helps the city's marginalized people, thank the report that the numbers are not surprising, and that from people experiencing homelessness "amplify" the message of

"I've heard it before," said Harvey. "And while I appreciate the count at some point, I can also hear the frustration of people living it because they're saying this...my hope is , all reports are to amplify the voices of those who live it, and we begin to be heard."

Harvey also visited Overnight City's Stop Gap drop-in at the Bridge Youth Centre. It was also critical that the center began a night of counting, which limited sleep time to 15 people from midnight to 6am. Those who did not have access to shelter space.

"Every night we were at capacity. People had to take turns," he said, later calling it inhumane. “We called people to put them in shelters, but they were full every night and sometimes they went to hotels. One or two people might be there. Lost, and we've heard this over and over:

Harvey says it's key to keep listening to homeless people to find solutions:

"This report is a wake-up call for us to do a better job." It's possible," he said.

The city of Peterborough's social services program Dorothy Olver, his manager, said city and community partners have developed a more coordinated and interdisciplinary response to homelessness over the past few years, He said he has adjusted the access system. But she admits she has more to do.

"We've made some changes and made some progress, but it's not enough," she said. "And our citizens definitely deserve better." It states that "much more urgency" is required from the level.

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Peter Borough Public Health Medical Officer Thomas Piggott said housing is a "critical need." According to the report, 52% of his respondents reported an illness or medical condition, and 40% had physical limitations.

"This is not just a health problem. It's a human problem," he said.

Pigot also says there is a "vicious cycle" in which health problems such as physical, mental and substance abuse lead to homelessness.

"And homelessness exacerbates and causes these health problems," he said.

According to him, the impact of homeless health problems has an average life expectancy of 42 years for men and 52 years for women, which is almost half the life expectancy in Canada.

"Once people get the proper, safe and affordable housing they want, these problems will start to resolve themselves," Pigot said.“We need a health care system to support our people, but housing is very basic, without which we cannot address these problems.”

Report The book also calls for “massive” investment in affordable housing from all levels of government, better links with indigenous communities, improved access to shelters and more temporary housing space for young people. , continuation of continuous evaluation, and many other recommendations. The city's homeless system.

"This road is beyond curiosity. 'Beyond emergency, this is crisis,' said Russell."

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