GUELPH – A point-in-time count to gather information about homelessness in Guelph and Wellington County is underway.
The Guelph-Wellington Everyone Counts 2021 Point-in-Time Count was launched on Oct. 20.
Volunteers and agencies were set to canvass local streets and service agencies asking families and individuals experiencing homelessness about their history of homelessness and housing.
The count will also include questions related to their overall health and wellbeing.
“This important information will provide a snapshot of homelessness in our community and will be used to target resources and track movement toward ending homelessness,” states a press release from the County of Wellington and the Guelph and Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination.
On Oct. 20 and 21, community members currently experiencing homelessness can also drop by one of three locations in Guelph to complete the survey:
- HOPE House, 10 Cork St. E, in Guelph, from 9am to 12pm;
- Royal City Mission, 50 Quebec Street in Guelph, from 9am to 4:30pm; and
- Guelph Community Health Centre, 176 Wyndam Street North, 9am to 4:30pm.
Community members can also complete the survey by calling the County of Wellington at 519-837-2600 ext. 3020 or emailing housingstabilty@wellington.c between 9am and 3:30pm.
“A PiT (point-in-time) count is a snapshot of homelessness in Guelph and Wellington County. This is important work that informs referrals, resource allocation and needs for the homeless-serving system,” said county housing stability manager Lori Richer.
The 2021 PiT Count, led locally by the Guelph and Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination and County of Wellington Housing Services, is part of a coordinated count taking place across Ontario and Canada.
Results from the count will be released at a virtual event on Nov. 16 from 9 to 10:30am. To register email housingstability@wellington.ca.
