Results are in from a district-wide homelessness count.

The District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board says the total number of people experiencing homelessness between April 30th and May 3rd was 182.

That includes 68 people who are absolutely homeless, 104 provisionally accommodated and 10 in transitional housing.

The top three reasons were addictions and substance abuse, conflict with spouse/partner and unsafe housing conditions.

As for barriers to finding housing, the top three included low income, high rent and mental health issues.

The snapshot of homelessness involved more than 80 volunteers counting and surveying individuals at local agencies, food programs, libraries and outdoor spaces in a coordinated effort to enumerate homelessness across the Nipissing District.

Officials say this represents the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness in the District.

Survey respondents also provided information relating to their interactions in the past 12 months with Public Systems, which included the number of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, police interactions and time in jail.

The results revealed 224 emergency room visits occurred, 29% were hospitalized, 48% had interacted with police and 20% had been incarcerated.

 

EveryoneCounts 2018 Infographic Final