‘Out there suffering’: Regina updating homeless numbers with ‘PIT count’

As wintertime is conscionable astir nan area successful Regina, nan chat astir homelessness is ramping up.

The metropolis is presently moving to fig retired really galore bum group location are successful nan Queen City. On Tuesday nighttime astir 100 volunteers helped pinch nan 4th yearly Point successful Time aliases PIT count.

The count takes spot crossed Canada and paints a image of what homelessness mightiness look for illustration successful that peculiar clip and place.

The count identifies nan minimum number of group who are unhoused, sleeping unsmooth aliases accessing short-term aliases transitional housing.

“It’s an opportunity for america to stitchery information that we tin springiness to nan national authorities and past they usage that information to thief them make a determination connected really overmuch backing to springiness to communities crossed Canada,” said Robert Byers, nan president and CEO of Namerind Housing Corporation, who helped pinch nan count.

The PIT count takes spot each 3 years. In 2021, Regina identified 488 individuals experiencing homelessness.

Byers hopes nan 2024 information will beryllium calculated earlier Christmas. And will nan numbers beryllium higher? Byers said it is difficult to say.

“Homelessness has really conscionable blown up correct crossed Canada and successful Regina,” he said. “It’s a different world retired there.

“These group are retired location suffering. This is nan lowest constituent successful their lives, and we each really conscionable person to say, ‘What tin we do to help?’”

Regina Mayor Sandra Masters said nan PIT count is very valuable for knowing nan rumor of bum successful nan city.

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“That information that comes backmost successful is unbelievably valuable erstwhile it comes to readying and advocating and knowing really to support going pinch what it is we’ve been capable to build complete nan past 4 years,” Masters said.

During nan evening count, volunteers encouraged group to be a organization services arena truthful those surviving connected nan thoroughfare could link and study much astir housing, wellness and nutrient programs disposable to them.

Along pinch receiving vaccines, those successful attendance were offered haircuts free of charge.

“It intends a batch to beryllium here,” hairdresser Hanna D’Andren said. “I deliberation we return for granted each nan mundane things for illustration haircuts. You benignant of hide that not everyone tin ever spend it. So it’s bully and it feels bully to springiness back.”

Regina metropolis assembly precocious voted to o.k. a imperishable shelter successful nan Queen City. The shelter will beryllium located astatine 1600 Halifax St., nan existent location of nan Eagles Club.

The Halifax Street location will costs astir $2.6 cardinal to acquisition and astir $3 cardinal to renovate.