Prince Edward County Council has received a snapshot of what homelessness in the County looks like.
Prince Edward Lennox & Addington Social Services Manager Connor Dorey says they conducted a Point-in-Time Count (PiTC) of people experiencing homelessness in 2021.
He presented the report to Committee of the Whole on Thursday.
On November 15, 2021, 95 people fit the definition of homeless in the two counties, with 45 of them in Prince Edward.
Dorey says 47% are hidden or shadow homeless, something that is more prevalent in rural areas.
“Individuals experiencing homelessness who are sleeping on couches, who are temporary-housed but it lacks that stability.”
While there are usually many factors resulting in an individual experiencing homelessness, of those surveyed, low incomes and high rents were at the top of the list.
Other factors include mental health and addiction issues, abuse and family or landlord conflicts.
Dorey told council it is possible that for every one homeless person enumerated through the PiTC, there could be three to five more.
And in many cases they’re dealing with homelessness on an emergency room type of approach.
“Where we’re dealing with individuals who are experiencing homelessness as they are experiencing homelessness. Where we need to focus on opportunities that may support preventing that individual from getting to that emergency room state.”
He says they will use the report to set priorities to understand what homelessness looks like within the area, to work with individuals who are currently homeless and find ways to reduce and eliminate homelessness in the future.
One tool that will by key is a By-Name List.
“The By-Name List also, as it will be a real-time list of individuals experiencing homelessness, will allow us to continue that advocacy but also to continue to understand what the current homelessness numbers look like.”
During the PiTC, 61 people consented to being added to the By-Name List.
Click here for a link to the full report.
