Belleville Homelessness Situation 2021 Insights
Explore key insights from the 2021 Point in Time Count in Belleville, highlighting trends in homelessness, duration of homelessness, age groups affected, and factors contributing to housing loss. Discover challenges faced in finding housing and the impact of housing affordability on homelessness in Belleville.
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Presentation Transcript
Point in Time Count Belleville, April 2021 Presentation to Hastings County Community and Human Services Committee Bridge Street United Church October 13, 2021
There are more people experiencing homelessness in Belleville in 2021 compared to 2018, and for longer periods of time
Duration of Homelessness, Belleville, 2021 1 to 3 months (11%) Don t know (6%) 3 to <6 months (9%) 6 to <9 months (16%) All year (51%) 9 to <12 months (7%)
Time trends: Type and length of homelessness Types of Homelessness, Belleville, 2018 & 2021 Duration of time spent homeless, Belleville, 2018 & 2021
Age groups in context Age 30-49 significantly over-represented in homeless population Age 50-64 and 65+ under-represented in homeless population Youth homelessness (16-24) likely undercounted in 2021 PiT Count 2021 Belleville (2016 Census) Ontario (2016 Census)
Age at first experience of homelessness Belleville, 2021 Nearly half of all respondents (48%) first experienced homelessness as children or youth (0-24) Shows importance of prevention, early intervention, focus on youth
Housing affordability cited as a top driver of homelessness in Belleville What happened that caused you to lose your housing most recently? What challenges or problems have you experienced when trying to find housing? Reason for Housing Loss # % N (148) Challenges Finding Housing # % N (137) Not enough income for housing (e.g. lost benefit, income, or job) Rents Too High 116 85% 39 26% Low Income 102 74% Other Interpersonal and Family Issues (e.g. Discrimination and conflict with others) 26 18% Other 58 42% Conflict with: Spouse / Partner 22 15% Discrimination 20 15% Landlord / Tenant Conflict 17 11% No Income Assistance 19 14% Conflict with: Parent / Guardian 15 10% Mental Health Issues 14 10% Other Housing and Financial Issues 15 10% Poor Housing Conditions 13 9% Other Health or Corrections (e.g. physical health issue, hospitalization, incarceration) 15 20% Addiction 11 8% Health/Disability issues 11 8% All other reasons <15 <10%
Length of time in Belleville & previous location Always been here Don't Know <1 year 1-5 years 6-10 years >10 years Total Belleville -- -- -- -- 36 36 (24%) Hastings County 5 15 2 9 -- 31 (20%) Quinte West 4 11 1 2 -- Central Hastings 3 1 5 -- Other Hastings County 1 1 4 -- Prince Edward County 1 4 2 3 -- 10 (7%) Lennox & Addington Counties 1 2 -- 1 4 (3%) Northumberland County 1 2 1 1 -- 5 (3%) Other Communities in Ontario 9 6 12 23 -- 1 51 (34%) Kingston 2 2 7 2 -- Toronto 2 2 5 -- Oshawa 1 4 -- Other Provinces 1 3 3 4 -- 1 12 (8%) Other Countries 1 2 -- 3 (2%) Total # of Respondents 18 33 20 42 36 3 152 (12%) (22%) (13%) (28%) (24%) (2%)
Impact of stigma on people experiencing homelessness We re not bad people; life happens The stigma of homelessness leads to discrimination Don t look down on [the] homeless; it s a hard life to live Homeless people should be treated with respect
Putting it all together PiT Count (Nov 2021) Demographic & service need info (required data points + local questions) Consent for BNL & follow-up by Community Response Team By-Names List Community Response Teams Systems Planning Service delivery Belleville PiT Count (Apr 2021) Anonymous, population-level data Coordinated Access Integrated Coordinated Access
Key messages There are more people experiencing homelessness in Belleville in 2021 compared to 2018, and for longer periods of time Chronic homelessness has increased substantially since 2018 Those experiencing chronic homelessness often have other concurrent needs that make it harder to find and maintain housing and which require support from multiple health and social services Housing First = housing + person-centred services + coordination between services Coordination of services and integration across systems is essential to prevent and end homelessness in Belleville and Hastings County
Steve van de Hoef svandehoef@bridgestchurch.com
