Homeless Count Underway
Prince George, B.C. – The Point in Time Homeless Count officially started moments ago.Prince George is one of 30 communities taking part in this national survey which will provide valuable information for communities and the Government of Canada as the count is using the same methodology in all communities.
“We have about 40 volunteers who will be conducting the outdoor count from 6 to 8 this morning” says Kerry Pateman, the Point in Time Coordinator in Prince George.
After 8 this morning, volunteers will shift to surveying agencies, drop in centres and shelters.
In Prince George, Community Partners Addressing Homelessness conducted a survey 6 years ago, at which time it was estimated there were about 160 people who were homeless in this City, however, that survey, and the one being conducted today, may not capture those who are “living on the edge” of homelessness and are staying with friends.
The survey will take 24 hours to capture the information, but Pateman says it will likely be early June before any real numbers are available.
The information will be used to develop strategies to reduce homelessness on a local and national scale.
Comments
I think we need a be a bit better on the definition of homeless people.
Are we talking about just the people who eat, sleepp on the street.
Are we going to count all the people that are in the shelters for people at risk,
How about the John Howard society clients.
Don’t forget the women in the Pheonix Society
The new Men’s shelter under construction.
There is the one on 17th and Queensway.
The motel on Queensway
The Elizabeth Fry society.
I think the expectation of only 140 is looking thru rose colored glasses.
The better definitions are available. If you do a bit of walking through the internet you can find the forms used in the USA which has been conducting surveys for over a decade as well as the Canadian form which is similar.
The First Canadian coordinated Homeless Count
web site is here : esdc.gc.ca/eng/communities/homelessness/point_in_time.shtml
The guide is located here: esdc.gc.ca/sgpe-pmps/servlet/sgpp-pmps-pub?lang=eng&curjsp=p.5bd.2t.1.3ls@-eng.jsp&curactn=dwnld&pid=46786&did=4554
In Washington State it has been a requirement since 2005.
Forms and past counts can be viewed on this site:
commerce.wa.gov/Documents/PIT-Survey-Form-2016-Unsheltered-PDF.pdf
There are separate forms for unsheltered and sheltered surveys. The forms also show background information which is sought. I am sure some will not want to answer any or some of the questions.
Here is the result of the 2015 survey. It shows the type of info gathered.
commerce.wa.gov/Documents/PIT_2015_Rollup_Summary.pdf
160 people are a bit low, it is well over 500.
These are people who can not afford shelter, or can not maintain shelter due to addictions.
This is the GVRD info for 2011
stophomelessness.ca/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/2011HomelessCountFinalReport28Feb2012-FinalVersion-Tuesday.pdf
752 unsheltered
1,712 sheltered
I doubt our numbers are that high
As an example, the numbers in Burnaby are 70(unsheltered) and 6
The highest total number outside the city of Vancouver is 400 in Surrey ….
I think as a society, we need to provide shelters for those that are down and out. We need to look after those who can not look after themselves to a point.
They should go down Oak and Pine streets and check the flop houses there they are usually loaded with people without an adress
They will. Those in charge of the survey will have such knowledge.
Those are categorized as sheltered homeless. There are some that are unsheltered, typically in alleys, doorways, parks (behind bushes, etc.)
They should come back after Trudeau’s been in office for a year. Might need to double the number of volunteers though…
They will. It is an annual survey started this year. I suspect it has not put into law yet though as it has been in the USA.
Not unless you are a refugee, everything bought and paid for. I never could understand how we treat our homeless, deprived children, even our elderly for shits sake! Why are we doling out money to the rest of the world like it grows on trees when…its our own backyard that needs looking after first.
There are more than just financial barriers which stand in the way.
Even countries with guaranteed incomes have homeless people.
We can help to take care of both.
People take care of their families plus people in the neighbourhood, the country as well as those in foreign countries.
Why are we doling out money to the rest of the world like it grows on trees when…its our own backyard that needs looking after first?
Don’t you know?
It’s because, because, well, it’s because “it’s 2015”!
Most of the homeless are just horrible entitled natives. I’ve been in a Timmies and they were kicked out for pouring Listerine in their coffees, no lie. It was the middle of winter so I decided to buy a hobo a sandwich outside and when he opened the bag he complained that it “wasn’t the kind he wanted”. The guy who cruises around on the bicycle is pretty cool
It is of my opinion that we need to be careful not to categorize people by race in this survey. A homeless person, is s homeless person. One can identify gender, age. but that is all that we need to categorize the homeless person as.
by no means am I a social worker. but I find it interesting how easy it is the categorize an entire race, by a few people of that race behaving badly, or poorly. I don’t think all white people are into wearing white hoodies, and burning crosses. I don’t think all Syrians have a bomb strapped to their bodies. I don’t think all first nation people are wandering our streets homeless.
We also need to recognize that few of the homeless people choose to be homeless. They may not want the structure, or the dependency to other members of the family. We also need to respect that.
And we need to raise the min wage so more people can pay their rent and don’t become homeless. These are people that want to want to work and are working.
oops-want to work.
I FEEL homeless, until I pay off my mortgage…………….
Under most overpasses people sleep. I’ve seen them under the Fraser Bridge and the Nechako overpass just in the last week. Some even camp in Cottenwood park and Ginters Trail near the bridge.
I was in Edmonton recently and one couldn’t go 200 feet without running into a census advertisement urging all people to register with the census so that Edmonton can get their fair share of services. The signs were everywhere like it was election time. That is one city that takes their census seriously.
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