Homelessness looks different for many people, which can make getting complete data on it a challenge.
Canada’s Point-in-Time Count is a national initiative designed to track homelessness by providing a one-night snapshot of individuals going without stable housing.
Conducted annually, the count collects key data on demographics, causes of homelessness and service needs.
Volunteers survey individuals in shelters and on the streets, offering critical insights for policymakers and service providers.
The PiT Count helps identify trends and inform strategies to address homelessness across the country.
This got journalist Owen Spillios-Hunter wondering where is that information collected from and how accurate is it?
Credits
Produced by Owen Spillios-Hunter & Ley Pickard
Special thanks to Kaite Burkholder Harris & Raynor Boutet
Additional photos courtesy of Owen Spillios-Hunter
Additional graphics from
2024 Final Results Presentation PowerPoint, provided by Raynor Boutet, City of Ottawa
New Canadians making up larger share of Ottawa’s Homeless Population: Report, Nathan Fung, CBC News
Racialized men aged 25 to 49 most likely to experience homelessness in Ottawa, Rachel Morgan, CityNews
Counting the Undercounted: Enumerating Rural Homelessness in Canada, Rebecca Schiff, Ashley Wilkinson, Terrilee Kelford, Shane Pelletier, Jeannette Waegemakers Schiff, International Journal on Homelessness
Everyone Counts – A Guide to Point in Time Counts in Canada 4th Edition – Standards for Participation, Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Government of Canada
Music
Beryllium, Farrel Wooten, Epidemic Sound
