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This year's Nipissing Counts, an enumeration of homelessness in the district, recorded an increase of 2.39 per cent over the 2020 survey.
During the 24-hour Point-in-Time (PiT) count spanning October 13–14, surveys were conducted at 46 locations across Nipissing District, in North Bay, West Nipissing, Mattawa, Temagami, East Ferris, Chisholm and South Algonquin. This year’s survey also included, for the first time, a By-Name List (BNL) homelessness registry, in line with the Ontario government’s initiative to understand homelessness across the province.
Over the 24-hour period, 300 individuals were found to be living in various forms of homelessness, seven more than the 2020 survey.
Of the 213 individuals who answered the survey, the majority were being temporarily housed in women’s shelters, in public institutions such as jails or hospitals, or were transitionally housed. Twelve individuals were "unsheltered" and living in areas such as public spaces or abandoned buildings. And, 31 were in "hidden homelessness," such as couch surfing.
Of those surveyed, the majority were male and three-quarters were single adults. Nearly half were considered chronically homeless, where they had gone without shelter for six months or more and 31 respondents indicated their most recent housing loss was related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For more information, see the Nipissing Counts 2021 Infographic.
“In addition to the valuable information provided by Point in Time counts, this year’s By-Name List is another tool that helps to track and support the individuals and families moving in and out of homelessness, connecting them to the most appropriate housing, services and supports. This also provides data needed to advocate for sufficient resources to respond to, and prevent, homelessness,” says DNSSAB Board Chair Mark King.
Approximately 70 volunteers from agencies across the district supported this year’s survey. Nipissing Counts 2021 provides an overview of homelessness in the Nipissing District, along with previous counts in 2016, 2018 and 2020. PiT count results are available on the DNSSAB website.
