September 18, 2024
Media Release
In 2024, Hastings County will take part in a coordinated effort to measure homelessness across Canada. On October 7th Hastings County, with significant support from volunteers and community agencies, will participate in the fourth nationally coordinated Point-in-Time (PiT) Homeless Count. The count will take place across Hastings County targeting both sheltered and unsheltered locations with a goal of assessing the number of homeless individuals on a specific date. This “snapshot” of homelessness will indicate the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness in our community and provide important demographic characteristics of people experiencing, or at-risk of homelessness.
Additionally, from October 7th through until November 7th an in-depth survey will be administered that allows for more detailed information to be gathered from those experiencing homelessness, including demographics related to age, gender, ethnicity, and veteran status.
The PiT Count will help improve Hastings County’s understanding of the needs and circumstances of the people who are experiencing homelessness in our community. Results from the PiT Count will be reported publicly, and will be used to improve the response to homelessness. In the future, successive counts will measure progress towards the ultimate goal of ending homelessness in Hastings County.
The Hastings County’s 2024 PiT Count has received support from Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy (Housing, Infrastructure & Communities Canada).
“The PiT Count provides critical information to our Council, staff and the community as a whole to understand the current scope of people experiencing homelessness in our communities,” stated Warden Bob Mullin, Hastings County. “Hastings County Council appreciates the efforts of the Hastings County Community & Human Services staff, volunteers and community agencies who are working diligently to execute the PiT Count again this year.”
Resources:
- Everyone Counts: A Guide to Point-in-Time Counts in Canada, 4th Edition
- Everyone Counts 2021 – Frequently Asked Questions
- The Canadian Definition of Homelessness
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Contact information:
For more information please contact:
Jamie Lynne Osmond, Director of Community & Human Services
osmondj@hastingscounty.com
Shannon Tummon-Graham, Policy & Planning Coordinator
tummon-grahams@hastingscounty.com
