Housing officials still hope to eliminate chronic homelessness here by January

Surveys conducted one year ago by dozens of volunteers from local social agencies identified 102 homeless individuals in Sault Ste. Marie.

The 'point-in-time' count of persons without shelter, or staying in shelters or short-term housing, was conducted on April 18, 2018.

About 50 trained volunteers conducted surveys at the Indian Friendship Centre, St. Vincent Place, Soup Kitchen, Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Works, United Way, Neighbourhood Resource Centre, Woman in Crisis, Pauline’s Place and at Nimkii-Naabkawagan Family Shelter.

It was intended to be a 'snapshot' capturing the minimum number of local people experiencing homelessness at a given time, part of a co-ordinated national count, says Jeff Barban, director of corporate services at District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board (DSSMSSAB).

DSSMSSAB directors had previously been told the survey found just 93 homeless, but revised numbers from Barban were presented at a board meeting last Thursday.

"The original count of 93 individuals in the previous board report did not include the nine individuals under the category 'unknown - likely homeless.' This was an oversight by housing services staff," Barban said in a written report.

"Upon further clarification from the federal and provincial governments, this number has been updated to 102," he said.

The earlier point-in-time count, conducted on Feb. 18, 2016, found 72 homeless individuals, including two children aged 13 and 12.

Joanne Pearson, DSSMSSAB tenant support and homelessness coordinator, told last week's meeting that local social services officials are working to eliminate chronic homelessness here by January, 2020.

The Sault had previously been working toward a target date of 2025 set by the Ontario government under then-premier Kathleen Wynne.

But Pearson says that timeline has been shortened.

Sault Ste. Marie is now participating in Built for Zero Canada, a group of leading communities working to end chronic homelessness – defined as the state of being homeless for six months or more during the past year, having spent more than 180 cumulative nights in a shelter or place not fit for human habitation.

DSSMSSAB data supplied to Built for Zero show 18 local people experiencing chronic homelessness have now been transferred to permanent and/or long-term housing.