DATE: June 1, 2016 REPORT NO. PHSSS2016-72 TO: FROM: PREPARED BY: Chair and Members Social Services Committee Jo Atanas, General Manager Public Health, Safety and Social Services David Miskiw Manager of Homelessness Services Maryellen MacLellan Director of Housing Services 1.0 TYPE OF REPORT CONSENT ITEM [ ] ITEM FOR CONSIDERATION [ X ] 2.0 TOPIC Results of the Point in Time Count (PiT) of Homeless People [Financial Impact - $0] (PHSSS2016-72) 3.0 RECOMMENDATION THAT the report on the results of the Point in Time Count (PiT) of Homeless people BE RECEIVED. 4.0 PURPOSE The purpose of this report is to update Social Services Committee on the Point in Time (PiT) Count of homeless people in the City of Brantford and County of Brant which took place on April 13, 2016. Public Health, Safety and Social Services 220 Colborne Street, P.O. Box 845 Brantford, ON N3T 5R7 Phone 519-759-3330 Fax: 519-759-5796
Date: June 1, 2016 Page 2 5.0 BACKGROUND Report PHSSS2016-23 - Point in Time (PiT) Count of Homeless People informed Committee of the upcoming event. The Federal Government supported this first homeless count coordinated amongst communities across Canada in 2016. Designated communities of the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) were encouraged to participate in the count. When communities conduct counts at the same time of year using a common approach, the results can be used to build a better understanding of homelessness across communities in Canada. Brantford/Brant was one of over 30 communities across Canada to undertake a PiT Count. The City of Brantford is the Community Entity for the HPS homelessness programs and funding. The City works closely in this role with the Community Advisory Board (CAB) on Homelessness Issues. Brant Native Housing is Community Entity for HPS Indigenous homelessness programs. Brant Native Housing also works closely with their advisory board, Brant Aboriginal Homelessness Alliance (BAHA). The Count was a joint initiative of CAB and BAHA. CAB and BAHA submitted a joint proposal to Service Canada to complete the PiT Count together. HPS accepted the proposal and was provided $30,000 in funding to support the administration of the count. Brant Native Housing hosted the project and used the funding to hire a short term PiT Count Coordinator and an Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator to plan, manage and coordinate the Count. The Count took place as scheduled and was very successful. Community partners participated in supporting the event by completing surveys at 9 shelters and transitional houses. 55 volunteers from both the City and County participated by walking areas frequented by homeless people to enumerate them. Volunteers participated in training and were placed in teams that were anchored and supported by an experienced social service or public services professional. Teams targeted 18 areas in the City and County. Police were consulted and supported the Count with a higher presence in areas to be enumerated. Individuals who identified as homeless were provided a small gift bag that included some personal hygiene items, a coffee gift card and service information. Completion of the survey was voluntary and the survey contained no personal identifying information. Furthermore, respondents could decline to answer any specific questions. A team of staff were available to reach out to urgent homelessness situations if identified by volunteers. This Outreach Team was dispatched to provide assistance to two individuals in need. One individual was provided emergency shelter and transportation. The other individual sleeps in the rough and declined emergency shelter but requested blankets. This
Date: June 1, 2016 Page 3 individual was provided blankets and encouraged to attend the Housing Resource Centre for housing assistance. This individual has since followed up and met with staff who are attempting to provide services aimed at ending his homelessness. A Magnet Event was held to attract people experiencing homelessness. The event was held on the lower floor of Market Square mall. A community meal was provided in the Haudenosaunee tradition, with a traditional opening and closing as well as music and dancing. Councillor Cheryl Antoski opened the event on behalf of the City. Free haircuts were available as well as vision screening. The event was well attended with food sufficient for 200 being completely consumed. 6.0 CORPORATE POLICY CONTEXT High Quality Of Life & Caring For All Citizens - Brantford will be recognized as a safe and healthy community one that promotes and enables the well-being of its citizens, and supports access of all citizens to a full range of health and community services. Examine the feasibility of proceeding with initiatives to enhance accessible community health and wellness. Excellence in Governance & Municipal Management - Brantford will be recognized as a fiscally responsible and wellmanaged city that provides efficient and effective government services. 7.0 INPUT FROM OTHER SOURCES The results of the PiT Count and the reports from the Aboriginal Engagement Coordinator and PiT Count Coordinator were consulted for the development of this report. On October 9, 2013 the Brantford-Brant Ten Year Housing Stability Plan (BBHSP) for the period from 2014 to 2024 was approved by Council. This plan includes recommendations and goals concerning homelessness programming and funding. The PiT Count will support the following recommendations of the BBHSP: 5.1 Continue efforts to increase awareness of homelessness and housing options across the housing continuum; and 5.6 Advocate for a National Housing Strategy and advocate to provincial and federal levels of government to adequately fund new affordable housing development, asset rehabilitation and long term resident support programs (i.e. rent supplement programs).
Date: June 1, 2016 Page 4 8.0 ANALYSIS The PiT Count of homelessness had two primary purposes: A count of people experiencing absolute homelessness: It was intended to identify how many people in City of Brantford and County of Brant experience homelessness in shelters and on the streets at a given time, April 13, 2016. A survey of the homeless population: Through an accompanying survey, the PiT Count provided information on the demographics and service needs of our homeless population. This information can be used to target community resources to where they are most needed. 445 individuals were engaged by enumerators and 98 completed surveys. Of those, 95 individuals or families were identified as being homeless. An additional 7 individuals who stay in the Brant Community Healthcare System were considered homeless because they have no fixed address outside of hospitalization and no potential for appropriate housing within the next year. These individuals did not complete surveys. The 2015 Provincial Report of the Expert Advisory Panel on Homelessness, A Place to Call Home indicates the vast majority of people experiencing homelessness up to 80 per cent are hidden, while the 20 per cent who are visible on streets and in shelters represent only the tip of the iceberg. That formula can be used to estimate the number of hidden homeless by applying it to the 95 individual and families identified in the PiT Count. This would make the number of homeless in Brantford and Brant County 475 on April 13, 2016. 74 survey respondents were single and 21 were families. These families included an additional 30 children who did not complete surveys. Further information and findings are outlined in the tables and paragraphs below. Gender of Survey Respondents Male 60 63.2% Female 34 35.8% Unknown 1 1.0% Gender of Children (Not Surveyed) Male 20 66.7% Female 10 33.3% Total 30
Date: June 1, 2016 Page 5 Age Groups Youth 9 9.5% Adult 77 81.1% Senior 8 8.4% Unknown 1 1.0% 3 individuals identified as being an immigrant or refugee (arrived in Canada within the last 5 years). 2 individuals identified as being a veteran of the military. Where are you Sleeping Tonight Location Emergency Shelter/Domestic Violence Shelter 46 48.4% Transitional Housing 26 27.4% Someone else s place 5 5.3% Vehicle (car, RV, truck, van) 1 1.0% Makeshift shelter, Tent or Shack 5 5.3% Doesn t know (likely homeless) 10 10.5% Declined to answer 2 2.1% The key findings from the question Where are you sleeping tonight? are that 72 homeless individuals or families, or 76% were accessing housing services and were sheltered and 6 individuals, or 6.3% confirmed that they were sleeping in the rough (outdoors or in a vehicle). Aboriginal Indicator First Nations 29 30.5% Métis 2 2.1% Non-Status (Aboriginal ancestry) 5 5.3% Not Aboriginal 56 59.0% Don t Know 1 1.0% Declined/Unclear 2 2.1%
Date: June 1, 2016 Page 6 The key findings from the question Do you identify as Aboriginal or do you have Aboriginal ancestry? are that 36 of the 95 homeless individuals or families were aboriginal. Locally, this confirms the findings of the Provincial and Federal governments that Aboriginals are over represented amongst the Homeless. According to Statistics Canada, Brantford/Brant s population is 5.2% Aboriginal yet the PiT Count identified 36% of homeless people to be Aboriginal. Moved here in the last year? Yes 26 27.4% No 68 71.6% Unclear / Blank Response 1 1.0% The survey results indicate that 71.6% of homeless individuals and families are longer term residents of Brantford and Brant County. Locally, an additional question was added to the surveys to gather further information about recent residency. The question was Where was your last long term housing? and it looked to identify the name of a city or town. Where was Your last long term housing? Brantford 46 69.7% Brant County 1 1.5% Six Nations 5 7.6% Hamilton 3 4.5% Simcoe 2 3.0% Guelph 1 1.5% Toronto 1 1.5% Brampton 1 1.5% London 1 1.5% Bruce County 1 1.5% Outside Ontario 4 6.1% Total 66 Unclear / Decline to Answer 29
Date: June 1, 2016 Page 7 Emergency Shelter use during the past year Yes 71 74.7% No 22 23.2% Unclear / Decline to Answer 2 2.1% Episodes of Homelessness during the past Year 1 Time 42 44.2% 2 Times 26 27.4% 3 + Times 22 23.2% Don t Know 1 1.1% Unclear / Decline to Answer 4 4.2% Total Duration of Homelessness during the past Year 0 2 Months 43 45.3% 3 5 Months 18 19.0% 6 + Months 25 26.3% Don t Know 5 5.2% Unclear / Decline to Answer 4 4.2% The above questions paint a picture of homelessness in Brantford and Brant County. The majority of homeless people are facing their first episode and have been homeless for less than 2 months. This group makes up about 45%. There is also a group of about 25% whose homelessness is more entrenched, having had multiple episodes and experienced more than 6 months of homelessness in the last year. The 2015 Provincial Report of the Expert Advisory Panel on Homelessness, A Place to Call Home refers to what this group experiences as chronic homelessness. The remainder fall in between. 27% of survey respondents indicated they had 2 episodes of homelessness in the last year. 19% responded that they have been homeless for 3 to 5 months in the last year.
Date: June 1, 2016 Page 8 Reason for Housing Loss Illness or Medical Condition 16 16.8% Addiction or Substance Abuse 27 28.4% Job Loss 3 3.2% Evicted: Unable to Pay Rent 18 19.0% Evicted: Other Reason 11 11.6% Domestic Abuse: Spouse or Partner 16 16.8% Domestic Abuse: Parent or Guardian 7 7.4% Family Conflict: Spouse or Partner 12 12.6% Family Conflict: Parent or Guardian 5 5.3% Left Care (Child Protection) (Prov. Team) 1 1.1% Incarceration (Jail or Prison) 8 8.4% Hospitalization or Treatment 5 5.3% Unsafe Housing Conditions 8 8.4% Family Conflict: Daughter 1 1.1% Dispute: Roommate 3 3.2% Refugee 1 1.1% Lack of Housing 1 1.1% Don t Know 2 2.1% Total 145 152.9% The reason for housing loss also provides valuable information about homelessness in Brantford/Brant. Survey respondents could cite as many reasons as applicable with the 95 Respondents citing 145 reasons for their homelessness. Eviction ranks first with 29 respondents indicating that this was their reason for homelessness. Addictions and substance abuse ranked second at 27. 23 respondents identified domestic abuse of some form and family conflict or household dispute was indicated by 21. Other health related reasons was indicated by 21 respondents. 8 survey respondents cited incarceration as the reason for their homelessness and 8 also indicated unsafe housing conditions.
Date: June 1, 2016 Page 9 Sources of Income Employment 15 15.8% Employment Insurance 2 2.1% Ontario Works 32 33.7% ODSP 30 31.6% Seniors Benefits (e.g., CPP/OAS/GIS) 6 6.3% Child and Family Tax Benefits 9 9.5% Money from Family / Friends 2 2.1% Voucher Programs 1 1.1% OSAP 1 1.1% No Income 11 11.6% Savings 1 1.1% Total 110 116% Poverty and receipt of social assistance is clearly an underlying factor in homelessness with 65% of respondents indicating that they receive Ontario Works or ODSP. Survey respondents could cite as many income sources as applicable with the 95 respondents indicating 110 sources of income. 9.0 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS The recommendation does not impact the City s budget. The PiT Count is funded 100% by HPS. 10.0 CONCLUSION The Point in Time Count was sponsored by the Federal government and was supported by the Provincial government. Both levels of government have also committed to increasing funding for homelessness programs in their recent budgets. This presents an opportunity to apply the knowledge and information garnered from the PiT Count to develop targeted and effective programming that addresses the identified needs of homeless individuals and families. Both senior levels of government have stated that Aboriginal people are over represented amongst the homeless and have identified this group as requiring focused attention of homelessness services. The findings of the PiT Count also confirm this locally. Aboriginal specific programming is required to respond to the
Date: June 1, 2016 Page 10 needs of Aboriginal individuals and families. Staff is encouraged by the collaboration between the City and Brant Native Housing to undertake the PiT Count. Staff hopes to build on that cooperation to introduce effective programming to address urban Aboriginal homelessness. The 2015 Provincial Report of the Expert Advisory Panel on Homelessness, A Place to Call Home sets the goal of eliminating chronic homelessness in Ontario within the next 10 years. Findings from the PiT confirm that this is an area of concern locally. Eliminating chronic homelessness in the City of Brantford and County of Brant will require more intensive case management programming with these individuals and families. Achieving these goals requires the development of a community strategy that can be used to establish an action plan and deploy resources in an effective and efficient manner. David Miskiw, Manager of Homelessness Services Jo Cupoli-Atanas, General Manager Maryellen MacLellan Director of Housing Services Attachment: Point in Time Count synopsis Copy: N/A In adopting this report, is a by-law or agreement required? If so, it should be referenced in the recommendation section. By-law required [ ] yes [ X ] no Agreement(s) or other documents to be signed by Mayor and/or City Clerk [ ] yes [ X ] no Is the necessary by-law or agreement being sent concurrently to Council? [ ] yes [ X ] no
MAKING EVERYONE COUNT 2016 Brant/Brantford Point-in-Time Count On April 13 th, 55 volunteers enumerated 27 areas in Brantford and Brant County 75.5% Staying in a shelter, transitional house or hospital 102 People Experiencing Homelessness on April 13 th 67.7% Reported that their last long term housing was in Brantford 37.9% of respondents self identified as having Indigenous Ancestry 34 Females 60 Males Sources of Income Ontario Works 33.7% Ontario Disability Support Program 31.6% Other 34.7% Top 5 Reasons for Housing Loss 1. Eviction 2. Addiction & Substance Use 3. Domestic Abuse 4. Health Related 5. Family Conflict or Household Dispute