City of Ottawa taking snapshot of homeless population as shelters grapple with rising demand

City Hall in downtown Ottawa is seen in this undated file photo. (CTV News Ottawa)

The City of Ottawa is hoping to learn this week just how many residents in the capital are homeless.

A "point-in-time count" began at noon Wednesday and will end at noon Thursday to provide a snapshot of the city's homeless population, with the goal of shaping better policies to support them.

A point-in-time count is a 24-hour event where outreach teams canvass outdoor areas and gather information from shelters and transitional housing to obtain an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness.

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The count will include known locations of both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness.

The last point-in-time count was conducted in 2021 and found 1,340 people across 114 locations in Ottawa. A count was also conducted in 2018, which surveyed 1,400 people across 118 sites.

The effort also includes a survey on homelessness that will be conducted over five days, ending at 4 p.m. Monday.

"The survey period has been extended this year to enable a more representative sample, including populations that are often missed or undercounted, such as youth, women, Indigenous peoples and those experiencing hidden homelessness, such as staying with friends or family," the City of Ottawa said in a news release.

In 2021, nine per cent of people experiencing homelessness were staying on the streets, up from five per cent during the survey in 2018. Fifty-five per cent of people experiencing homelessness in Ottawa in 2021 were staying in shelters, down from 67 per cent three years earlier, and more than half said they had been homeless for more than 180 days in the previous year. More than a quarter of survey respondents said the reason they were homeless was because of a lack of income.

Ottawa's shelters say they're facing unprecedented demand in 2024. The Ottawa Mission's most recent report says it is dealing with a record-breaking surge of homelessness and food insecurity. The Mission says it serves an average of 3,103 meals every day.

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Any resident who is experiencing hidden homelessness can contact 3-1-1 to complete the survey by phone.

Residents can also contact the Point-in-Time Count Command Centre at [e-mail] or at 3-1-1 (TTY: 613-580-2401) to obtain information on locations where they can complete the survey in person.