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City’s homeless population count planned |
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Written by SCOTT STANFIELD
Citizen staff
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Thursday, 08 May 2008 |
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The count is intended to help CPAH better understand the scope of the issue, and to enhance and search for new programs to better serve the homeless.
"Our numbers are going up and we're seeing more people, and yet we really don't have a true number, or an estimated number of how many people are homeless or living on the fringes," said Bernie Goold, a CPAH member who sits on the board of directors at St. Vincent de Paul.
Goold said affordable, sustainable housing is "very much needed" to best deal with the issue.
"That may be supportive housing, and what's called housing first with wraparound services where there are social workers and people right on site to help these people."
Data collected will help provide a snapshot of the size and composition of the local homeless population.
The count is expected to underestimate actual numbers because it will focus on the visible, not hidden, homeless. The latter might be "couch surfers" or those living in institutions.
Upwards of 50 volunteers are expected to conduct the count from 6 p.m. May 25 to 6 p.m. May 26 at shelters, and throughout the downtown core and some outlying areas. Surveys will also be available at agencies accessed by homeless individuals, such as the Native Friendship Centre and the Fire Pit.
The CPAH group hopes to conduct the count on an annual basis.
"We're very excited that we're doing something proactive," Goold said. "This is something very positive. We'll have a better handle on what's going on out there on the street."
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 08 May 2008 )
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