HIFIS Data Analysis Framework

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Appendix 2

Homelessness Partnering Strategy Target Populations: Definitions and Statistics

The 61 designated communities under HPS are requested to provide profile data and factors on the life situation, age, gender, family status and ethnic origin for the following five categories of homeless populations (and those at risk of homelessness):

• People at risk of homelessness
• People living on the street and its sub-population of those chronically living on the street
• People who are short-term or crisis sheltered and its sub-population of those who are episodically sheltered
• The hidden homeless population
• People who are supportive housed

To evaluate the efforts of the HPS in preventing and reducing homelessness, the baseline population of each target group is needed in order to establish comparable data. Within each category, there is a methodology for determining the population size of each of these groups. Currently, accurate and reliable figures are only available for the population at risk of homelessness, in core housing need and spending at least half of income on shelter. HPS also did a national estimate for those living on the street and in shelters, based on calculations derived from point-in-time counts done in 14 Canadian communities.

At risk of homelessness

A reliable indicator of the number of Canadians at risk of homelessness is the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s core housing need and the “In Need and spending At Least Half of income on shelter” (INALH) statistics, which are derived from census information. A 2004 CMHC revision of the 2001 Census indicated that there were approximately 1.5 million households in core housing need. These households were paying 30 percent or more of their income on housing, and living in unsuitable and/or inadequate accommodations. Of these, there were 570 700 INALH households spending 50 percent or more of their income on shelter, leaving them with limited income for other necessities. The number at risk of homelessness is even larger than these figures indicate, particularly when other groups at imminent risk of homelessness (such as those leaving health or criminal justice institutions without appropriate, stable housing; and youth exiting the child welfare system) are taken into account. Of particular note are the estimated 3.4 million Canadians in poverty, based on Statistics Canada’s Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics.

Living on the street

The only method currently used to count homeless individuals living on the street systematically is point-in-time counts. A point-in-time street count done at the same time as a shelter count usually includes individuals or families living on the street who lacked secured housing on the particular night of the count. These counts tend to focus on homeless individuals in target/known areas, which ncreases the likelihood that some will be overlooked.

In the Statistics Canada feasibility assessment to determine how to get a comprehensive count of all homeless people for the 2001 Census, the street component was considered to be the more difficult population to reach and most expensive to survey. This was found to be true because homeless street people are difficult to locate, identify and count uniquely during any survey reference period.

Short-term or crisis sheltered

The current method for collecting data on people who are short-term and crisis sheltered over the course of a year or more is through the implementation of data collection systems such as the HIFIS. Shelter management systems such as this one allow for the collection of annualized statistics. As discussed, point-in-time counts will only include individuals or families who were short-term or crisis sheltered in emergency or transitional housing on the night of the count. Most people who move from shelter to shelter are one- or two-time users who do not return once they acquire secure, stable housing. Therefore, over the course of a given year, the number of homeless people would greatly exceed the total point-in-time counts, if all the different people who were constantly entering and exiting the shelter system were considered.

Hidden homeless population

Currently, there is no systematic, reliable method for counting the hidden homeless population, nor is there agreement nationally on the definition.

Studies argue that street and shelter counts underestimate the homeless population because they are unable to identify the hidden homeless population. This population includes those who live in locations not intended for human habitation; individuals who move continuously among temporary arrangements provided by friends, family or strangers; and the homeless populations of rural and remote communities. Many women fleeing violence and victims of abuse generally seek alternatives before going to a shelter or transition home; these individuals are also part of the hidden homeless population.

Supportive housed

People who are supportive housed form a particularly important segment of the population at risk. There is no method currently in place to count those in supportive housing, nor the number of units in which they reside. However, the 2007 HPS community plans for the designated communities require that communities identify these numbers because of this population’s high degree of vulnerability and their lack of skills to maintain housing without some type of financial or life management support; if supports were withdrawn, these individuals would likely join the homeless population.

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