File photo of a homeless encampment outside of the Civic Centre in Lethbridge in August 2022. (Photo: LNN)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge to participate in homeless count next week

Sep 22, 2022 | 10:20 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Lethbridge is one of the many communities across Canada participating in the Point-in-Time (PiT) Homeless Count next week.

The nationally coordinated initiative will take place on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. Over 65 communities across the country will participate in the third annual count.

The City of Lethbridge noted that while core standards are set federally, the Alberta 7 Cities on Housing and Homelessness is coordinating specific elements of the count, like date and time to allow for comparability between the cities on a provincial level.

In Lethbridge, the count will be conducted on the evening of September 27 by the City of Lethbridge Community Social Development department, in partnership with homeless serving agencies and outreach teams. Trained staff and volunteers will enumerate and survey individuals who are staying in shelters, short-term housing and those sleeping without shelter, over the course of a six-hour period.

The PiT Count, according to the City of Lethbridge, will offer a “snapshot” of homelessness in the city, and indicate the minimum number of people experience homelessness in the community. Other forms of homelessness, like people temporarily staying with friends, are not typically included in a PiT Count.

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The Lethbridge PiT Count in 2018 found that 223 individuals were experiencing homelessness.

This year’s survey will provide staff with important date on gender, age, ethnicity, the history of homelessness, health challenges experienced by those are homeless, and more.

The City of Lethbridge said results from the survey “will be used to improve our community’s response by identifying service needs and informing plans to prevent and reduce homelessness.”

A report compiling all of the data will be made available to the public later this fall. The findings will also be shared with count partners, those who work in the sector and those who experience homelessness. Additionally, results will be made available at the City of Lethbridge website.

More information on Point-in-Time Counts is available at the Homelessness Learning Hub website.

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