Overview of Point-in-Time Count Survey for Reaching Home 2021

Everyone Counts 2021 Point-in-Time Count Screening and Core Survey Reaching Home Point-in-Time Count Coordinator Training Sessions January 2021

Overview Components of the PiT Survey 1 Screening Determine whether the respondent should be surveyed. 2 Survey Provides more information about the population and their needs (e.g., age, gender, Aboriginal status, Veteran status, service needs, etc.).

Overview Outline 1. Screening a. Who to Approach b. Questions 2. The Survey

Screening Who to approach? ? ? ? ? ? During a Point-in-Time Count, you approach everyone

Screening 1 Screening Questions

Screening Screening Questions Question Purpose A. Have you answered this survey with a person with this [identification, e.g., button]? a) Yes b) No B. Are you willing to participate in the survey? a) Yes b) No Avoid double counting Obtain participant s consent.

Screening Screening Questions Question C: Where are you staying tonight? [night-of] Question C: Where did you stay last night? [next day] a)Decline to answer b)Own apartment/house c) Someone else s place d)Motel/hotel (self funded) e)Hospital f) Treatment centre g)Jail, prison, remand centre h)Homeless shelter (emergency, family or domestic violence shelter) i) Hotel/Motel (funded by city/program) j) Transitional shelter/housing k) Unsheltered in a public space (e.g. street, park, bus shelter, forest or abandoned building) l) Encampment (e.g. group of tents, makeshift shelters or other long-term outdoor settlement) m) Vehicle n) Unsure (Indicate probable location: __ Training Note: Surveyors should follow up if the respondent is unsure.

Screening Screening Questions [optional]* Question C1 Purpose [If response c-g indicated] Do you have access to a permanent residence where you can safely stay as long as you want? Gives clarification on previous question Helps to identify individuals who are experiencing hidden homelessness a) Yes b) No [Begin Survey] c) Don't know [Begin Survey] d) Decline to answer Training Note: Volunteers should understand the situations that should be included and those that should not.

Survey 2 Survey Questions

Survey Questions Family Question 1 Purpose Do you have family members or anyone else who is staying with you tonight? Captures and groups family data together None Partner Survey # Child(ren)/Dependent(s) [indicate age and gender] Other adult Declined to answer Identifies the number of families experiencing homelessness Helps to track progress in reducing family homelessness Training Note: The question only refers to others who are spending the night with the respondent.

Survey Questions Age of Respondent Question 2 Purpose How old are you? (or) What year were you born? Provides information on the age of people experiencing homelessness Age or Year Born Don t know Declined to answer Supports community planning for age-specific services

Survey Questions Script Purpose For this survey, homelessness means any time when you have been without a permanent and secure place to live, including sleeping in shelters, on the streets, or living temporarily with others without having your own permanent housing (e.g. couch surfing). To clarify to the respondent that any kind of homelessness experience counts for subsequent questions.

Survey Questions Age of First Homelessness Question 3 Purpose How old were you the first time you experienced homelessness? To identify the age at which people are vulnerable to experiencing homelessness in order to support planning for prevention. Age Don t know Declined to answer

Survey Questions Chronic Homelessness Question 4 Purpose In total, how much time have you been homeless over the past year (last 12 months)? Provides information on the duration of the homelessness and whether the participant is experiencing chronic homelessness Length: ____[days/weeks/months] Don't know Decline to answer Although this question can be challenging to answer specifically, only a rough estimate is needed. Training Note: Respondents do not need to provide an exact timeframe. It can help to ask the question in reverse have they been housed over the past year?

Survey Questions Shelter use in the past year Question 5 Purpose Have you stayed in a homeless shelter in the past year? [Examples of emergency shelters, extreme weather shelters] Yes No Don't know Decline to answer To provide information on people who do not use shelters. This information may not be captured in other systems.

Survey Questions Newcomers* Question 6 Did you come to Canada as an immigrant, refugee or a refugee claimant (i.e. applied for refugee status after coming to Canada)? Yes, immigrant Yes, refugee Yes, refugee claim No Don't know Decline to answer [If yes] How long have you been in Canada? [Length] Or [Date arrived] Don't know Decline to answer Purpose Identifies risk of homelessness among people who are newly arrived in Canada and the timing of that risk. Training Note: The question is not asking about current status, but status upon arrival in Canada.

Survey Questions Migration* Question 7 Purpose How long have you been in (community name)? Identifies the extent of migration to the community, and where that migration is from. People who are new to the city may not be aware of available services. Length__[days/weeks/months/years] Always been here Don't know Decline to answer [If length indicated] Where did you live before you came here? [community & province/country] Don't know Decline to answer This can be combined with the age of first homelessness to determine whether homelessness first occurred before or after arrival to the city. Training Note: The question is asking about other places someone has lived. It would not include shorter term trips.

Survey Questions Indigenous Identity Question 8a Do you identify as First Nations (with or without status), M tis, or Inuit, or do you have North American Indigenous ancestry? Purpose Helps to track progress in addressing Indigenous homelessness. Yes, First Nations Yes, M tis Yes, Inuit Yes, Indigenous Ancestry No Don t know Decline to answer The wording of this question is flexible. For example, it could include a specific first nation as a response option. Consult the local Indigenous community.

Survey Questions Racial Identity Question 8b In addition to your response in the question above, do you identify with any of the racial identities listed below? [Show or Read list. Select all that apply] Arab (e.g. Syrian, Egyptian, Yemeni) Asian-East (e.g. Chinese, Korean, Japanese, etc.) Asian-South-East (e.g. Filipino, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Malaysian, Laotian, etc.) Asian-South or Indo-Caribbean (e.g. Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Indo-Guyanese, Indo-Trinidadian, etc.) Asian-West (e.g. Iranian, Afghan, etc.) Black-Canadian/American Black African (e.g. Ghanaian, Ethiopian, Nigerian, etc.) Black-Afro-Caribbean or Afro-Latinx (e.g. Jamaican, Haitian, Afro-Brazilian, etc.) Latin American (e.g. Brazilian, Mexican, Chilean, Cuban, etc.) White (e.g. European, French, Ukranian, Euro-Latinx, etc.) Not listed (please specify) Identify as Indigenous only Don t know Decline to Answer Purpose This is a new question added to the PiT count survey. It looks to address a national data gap and to gain a better understanding of the intersections between the experience of homelessness and racial identities. Communities may consider including additional racial identities that are of interest within their respective community. If your community would like to expand any of the specific response options, you can do that in your survey and roll the data up when provided to ESDC.

Survey Questions Veterans Question 9 Have you ever served in the Canadian military* or the RCMP? Purpose Provides information on Veteran homelessness. Yes, Military Yes, RCMP Both Military and RCMP No Don t know Declined to answer *Military: includes Canadian Navy, Army, or Air Force. Note that Cadets are not considered part of the Canadian Military. Military and RCMP Veterans may be eligible for support through Veterans Affairs Canada as well as Veterans support groups.

Survey Questions Child Welfare Question 10 As a child or youth, were you ever in foster care or in a youth group home (or )? Purpose Provides data for better service planning and delivery Identifies potential opportunities for homelessness prevention. Yes No Don t know Decline to answer The language of this question can be adapted to the province. Training Note: The question is asking about experiences in the care of child welfare. Youth group homes would not include correctional or other institutions.

Survey Questions Health Challenges Question 11 Do you identify as having any health challenges? Purpose Provides information on number of individuals experiencing various health challenges to support planning Physical Medical Condition Physical Limitations Learning or Cognitive Limitations Mental Health Issue [diagnosed/undiagnosed] Substance Use Issue Training Note: Examples are provided on the survey form for what would be included under each of these areas. It s important to note that the question is asking whether respondent identifies as having this challenge. Possible responses: Yes No Don t know Declined to answer

Survey Questions Gender identity* Question 12 Purpose What gender do you identify with? [Show list] Male / Man Female / Woman Two Spirit Trans Female / Trans Woman Trans Male / Trans Man Genderqueer / Gender Non- Conforming Not listed: [insert answer] Don't know Decline to answer Provides demographic information on the homeless population to support community planning.

Survey Questions Sexual identity (or orientation)* Question 13 Purpose To identify the risk of homelessness among people who identify as LGBTQ2. The purpose of this question is to better understand their needs and inform service delivery. How do you describe your sexual orientation, for example straight, gay, lesbian..? [Show list] Straight/ Heterosexual Gay Lesbian Bisexual Two-Spirit Pansexual Asexual Questioning Queer Not listed: [insert answer] Don't know Decline to answer Training Note: Interviewers should show the response options to the respondent to ensure they can self- identify.

Survey Questions Reasons for housing loss Question 14a What happened that caused you to lose your housing most recently? [select all that apply] Not enough income for housing Unfit/Unsafe Housing Building Sold or Renovated Owner moved in Landlord/Tenant Conflict Complaint Left the community Departure of Family member Experienced Discrimination Purpose These responses can help to determine the pathways into homelessness in your community and identify potential areas to focus on interventions to prevent homelessness. Conflict with: Spouse/Partner Conflict with: Parent/Guardian Conflict with: Other ______ Experienced abuse by: spouse / partner Experienced abuse by: parent / guardian Experienced abuse by: Other ________ Physical Health Issue Mental Health Issue Substance Use Issue Hospitalization/ Treatment program Incarceration Other reason [insert answer] Don't know Decline to answer Training Note: Interviewers should familiarize themselves as much as possible with the list. They should try to capture any relevant response, and can confirm with the respondent to ensure that nothing was missed.

Survey Questions COVID-19 question Question 14b Was your most recent housing loss related to the COVID-19 pandemic? Purpose This follow-up question was added to the 2021 PiT count as a means to obtain a better understanding on how the pandemic has affected flows into homelessness Yes No Don t know Decline to answer

Survey Questions Length of Homelessness Question 14c How long ago did that happen (that you lost your housing most recently)? Purpose Provides information on the respondent s current experience of homelessness. Length______ (Date/weeks/months/years) Don t know Decline to answer Can compare age of first homelessness to the response to better understand the respondent s trajectory.

Survey Questions Income Question 15 Purpose What are your sources of income?* This is an open question with categories provided, including those related to employment, informal sources (e.g., bottle returns), tax benefits, and family and friends. Full-time Employment Part-Time Employment Casual Employment Informal income sources (e.g., bottle returns, panhandling) Money from family/friends Other money from a service agency Employment Insurance Disability benefit Seniors benefits (e.g., CPP/OAS/GIS) Welfare/social assistance Veteran/VAC Benefits Child and family tax benefits GST/HST Refund Other source: [insert answer] No income Decline to answer This question can be used to identify which supports are being accessed and which are not. For example, it could indicate whether homeless seniors are accessing Old Age Security or the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Training Note: Interviewers should read through this list. It refers to income the respondent typically receives.

Everyone Counts 2021 Thank you! Questions? Comments?