Calgary Homeless Foundation say ‘slight’ improvement in those experiencing homelessness
Posted Feb 2, 2023 11:03 am.
New data from the Calgary Homeless Foundation shows the number of unhoused Calgarians has dropped slightly in four years, but it also pinpoints gaps in the system.
The last Point In Time (PiT) count happened in 2018, which indicated that 2,911 Calgarians were experiencing homelessness. The new report says that it dropped slightly to 2,782.
Patricia Jones, the CEO of Calgary Homeless Foundation, says during the early part of the pandemic, they were able to move quickly and house Calgarians in need of shelter thanks to emergency federal funding.
She also points out the key role the City of Calgary has played in winter response. However, Jones says there’s work to be done.
“The difference between people becoming homeless for the first time often is having access to first and last month’s income,” Jones said.
“So if inflation keeps going up … somebody who is barely on the edge and can’t afford a damage deposit or income … the worry is that we’ll see more and more people who are on the edge of or falling into homelessness.”
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The data pinpoints a gap in support for homeless Indigenous people in the city, indicating that forty percent of homeless Indigenous people in Calgary are more likely to live on the streets, in vehicles, or encampments, rather than staying at a shelter.
“We need to work with our indigenous communities to continue. Understanding continuing down the path of Truth and Reconciliation and doing both the truth sometimes is not very nice to look at, and reconciliation doesn’t stop,” Jones said.
“So I think in so many levels we have a long way to go. And I think meaningful conversation with the right people at the rate tables toward action is where we need to continue to progress.”
The report also indicates a gap in support for young men, with men between the age of 25 and 45 making up 40 percent of Calgary’s homeless population.
