More than 1,000 people are homeless in Waterloo region, point-in-time count finds

There are 1,085 people who are homeless in Waterloo region, a point-in-time count conducted in September has found.

"The number is just unacceptable," said Coun. Jim Erb, who chairs the region's housing and homelessness steering committee, at a media briefing Wednesday.

"It's a wake up call for all of us and the community to recognize how widespread this is."

According to a regional report, the 1,085 people experiencing homelessness in Waterloo region is up from 333 people in 2018, at the time of the last point-in-time count. The increase is explained in part by the growing number of people in the region who are unsheltered, and in part by changes to the count itself.

For example, at the time of the last homelessness count, the region didn't include people who were among the "hidden homeless" meaning they are living with others or couch-surfing but have no prospects for a stable, long-term place to live.

Communities are required by the federal and provincial governments to complete these counts every two years, although they were given a longer grace period due to the pandemic.

The point-in-time count in Waterloo region was completed by regional staff, in partnership with community service providers.

Hundreds among 'hidden homeless'

Of the 1,085 people who were counted by the region this year:

• 412 were living rough, including in encampments, on the street or in their cars.
• 335 were among the hidden homeless.
• 191 were staying in an emergency shelter.
• 84 were in transitional housing.
• 63 were in an institution, such as police custody, a hospital or domestic violence shelter.

Based on the findings of the point-in-time count, regional staff are recommending an extra $2,448,000 be dedicated toward ending homelessness in the 2022 budget.

This money would double the amount of street outreach services in the region, hire more "health-focused" staff to work with people living in supportive housing, and help 50 more people who are chronically homeless transition to permanent housing, said the staff report.

As of August, there are 361 people who are chronically homeless in the region, meaning they've been without a residence for six months or more in the last year, or for 1 and a half years in the last three.

Staff have also recommended extending the region's interim housing program, which houses 80 people who were previously unsheltered, and is paid for by federal and provincial funding. The funding is set to expire by March 31, 2022.

"Hopefully the provincial government will recognize the severity of this ongoing need, not only in Waterloo region but across the province, and respond with increased funding," Erb said.

Survey data

Out of the 1,085 people who were homeless in September, 609 agreed to take part in a survey about their experience of homelessness.Some data highlights from the survey include:

Demographics:

• 10 per cent were 25 or younger; 56 per cent were age 26 to 45; 34 per cent were 45 and older.
• 15 per cent identified themselves as racialized community members.
• 17 per cent identified themselves as First Nations / Indigenous.

Reasons for first experience of homelessness:

• Not enough income for housing (33 per cent.)
• Landlord/tenant conflict (24 per cent).
• Substance use issues (15 per cent).
• Conflict with spouse/partner (14 per cent).
• Unfit/unsafe housing conditions (13 per cent).

Reported challenges to finding housing:

• Low income (78 per cent).
• Rent too high (73 per cent).
• Discrimination (34 per cent).
• Poor housing conditions (26 per cent).
• Mental health issues (25 per cent).

Services that would be most helpful:

• Finding affordable housing (87 per cent).
• Housing search support (69 per cent).
• Bus pass (68 per cent).
• Outreach workers (59 per cent).
• Internet access (56 per cent).

Regional Chair Karen Redman called the report "sobering" but unsurprising, given what outreach workers have long known about the experience of homelessness in Waterloo region.

She believes the new data will help the region improve its response to homelessness.

"Governments measure what they value and they change what they measure," Redman said.

A report about the point-in-time count will go before the region's committee of the whole on Nov. 9.