2016 Coordinated PiT Count

Transcription

1 Overview and Data First Annual Canadian Homelessness Data Sharing Initiative Calgary, Alberta - May 4, 2016 Dr. Patrick Hunter, Policy Analyst Homelessness Partnering Strategy, ESDC

2 Background The PiT Count Approach Enumeration (The Count) How many people are experiencing absolute homelessness in sheltered and unsheltered locations on the night of the count Understanding the Population (The Survey) What are the demographics, service needs, and pathways into homelessness

3 Background PiT Count History U.S. PiT Counts HUD mandating enumeration since 2003 Common reporting requirements History in Canada Large (e.g., Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver) Mid-sized (e.g., Lethbridge, Kamloops) Alberta 7 Cities Coordinated Count Common timeframe: Mid-October 2014 Common survey questions

4 The HPS PiT Count Approach Launch - February 2015 Invited 61 HPS Communities - PiT Count Working Group - HPS Guide to PiT Counts in Canada - Supports: Funding, Training, Tools Core Approach - Common Timeframe: January April Common Core Populations - Common Core Screening and Survey Questions - Communities could build on this Core

5 2016 Participating Communities Yukon Whitehorse British Columbia Kelowna Nanaimo Nelson Prince George Victoria Saskatchewan Regina Prince Albert Manitoba Brandon Thompson

6 2016 Participating Communities Ontario Brantford Guelph Halton Hamilton Kingston London Nipissing/North Bay Peterborough Sault Ste. Marie St.Catharines/Niagara/Thorold Thunder Bay Windsor York Region New Brunswick Bathurst Fredericton Moncton Saint John Nova Scotia Halifax Sydney/Cape Breton Prince Edward Island Charlottetown Summerside

7 Core Populations Unsheltered Outdoors Vehicles Parking Garages Etc. Shelters Emergency Extreme Weather VAW Hotel Vouchers Transitional Fixed term accommodations CORE PiT POPULATIONS

8 Optional Populations Systems Health Facilities Corrections Hidden Couch Surfing Cycling in and out of homelessness OPTIONAL PiT POPULATIONS

9 Data: Core Enumeration Population Unsheltered Surveyed Unsheltered Observed Emergency Shelter and VAW Transitional Housing Systems (Health and/or Corrections) Unsure (likely homeless) Data Source Number of unsheltered responses* Number observed homeless from tally Systems data/occupancy Systems data/occupancy Systems data (No fixed address) Number of Respondent doesn t know responses** Total *Refers to the number of people who responded with an unsheltered location to the question, Where are you staying tonight? **Refers to the number of responses of Respondent doesn t know (likely homeless) to Where are you staying tonight?

10 Data: Core Survey Questions # Question Data C Do you have a permanent residence that you can return to tonight? Yes/No D Where are you staying tonight? Unsheltered Locations Emergency Shelters/VAW Transitional Housing Systems Friend/Family 1 What family members are with you today? Partner/Dependent/Other Adult 2 How old are you? (or) What year were you born? Age (continuous) 3 What gender do you identify with? Male/Female/Transgender/ Other Response 4 5 Do you identify as Aboriginal or do you have Aboriginal ancestry? This includes First Nations, Métis, Inuit, with or without status. Have you ever had any service in the Canadian Military or RCMP? (Military includes Canadian Navy, Army, or Air Force) First Nations/Métis/Inuit/ Non- Status or Ancestry Military/RCMP

11 Data: Core Survey Questions # Question Data 6 Did you move to (Community Name) in the past year? Recent arrival in community 7 Did you come to Canada as an immigrant or refugee within the past 5 years? Recent immigrant or refugee 8 Over the past year, how much of the time have you been homeless? 9 Over the past year, how many different times have you experienced homelessness? 0-2 months 3-5 months 6-12 months 1 time (this time) 2 times 3 + times 10 Have you stayed in an emergency shelter in the past year? Shelter user or not 11 What happened that caused you to lose your housing most recently? 12 Where do you get your money from? Medical, physical, and social pathways into homelessness Employment/informal sources/government benefits/family or friends

12 Uses for PiT Data At a local level, counts can be used to identify: - changes in the population size, demographics and geography - emerging service needs - progress in reducing homelessness At a national level, counts can add to our understand of the homeless population and how it is changing over time. - The U.S. has used its biennial count to demonstrate progress in priority areas, including chronic homelessness and homelessness among families and veterans.

13 Strengths of the Approach Can reach non-shelter-users, including people on the street and couch surfers. If surveys are tagged with specific locations, it is possible to look at the geography of the population within a city. Survey data collected consistently across years can reveal trends in demographics or service needs. *Potential for mobilizing the community, providing an educational experience for volunteers, and for building partnerships.

14 Considerations for the Approach Susceptible to variations in the weather (e.g., rain/snow, extreme temperatures), particularly for unsheltered populations. Susceptible to variations in methodology. The more thorough the implementation (more locations, more surveyors), the more people that will be found. Enumerates absolute homelessness, but not hidden homelessness. However, surveys can provide valuable information on this population. One-day snapshot that should be complemented by other data sources (e.g., shelter use data). Highlights areas to explore further.

15 Next Steps Reviewing Lessons Learned - Engaging with participating communities to review implementation. - Will reconvene the Working Group to review the methodology and community supports for the next count. PiT Count Reports - Each community will report its own results Coordinated PiT Count Report with analyses across communities expected in the fall.

16 For More Information Questions? Patrick Hunter: (819) Resources HPS Guide to PiT Counts in Canada Community Workspace on Homelessness COH PiT Count Implementation Toolkit