This homelessness enumeration was part of a Cross-Canada initiative. It was part of the second homelessness count coordinated among communities across Canada supported by the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS). A homelessness count was also a requirement of the Province for all municipal Service Managers to conduct surveys of people experiencing homelessness in their communities. The results of these surveys will contribute to a better understanding of homelessness regionally, provincially, and nationally. In February 2017, Durham Region’s first PiT Count was conducted to better understand the extent and nature of homelessness by counting the number of individuals experiencing homelessness and surveying them on a specific
point in time. The Homelessness Partnering Strategy Community Advisory Board decided that in 2018, another homelessness enumeration would take place and with both a PiT Count and Registry Week. By conducting the homelessness enumeration over five days and combining the two approaches, it not only helped determine the extent of homelessness in our community but also allowed us to know individuals experiencing homelessness by name and to prioritize those most vulnerable in order to connect them to housing and support services as quickly as possible. Knowing people experiencing homelessness by name and prioritizing the most vulnerable is essential to our commitment to the Regional Municipality of Durham’s 10 Year Housing Plan – a commitment that is aligned with the provincial goal to end chronic homelessness by 2025.