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