The lead researcher looking into improving the accuracy of homelessness numbers in Canada says there is a wider spectrum of people experiencing homelessness across the country.

 

Dr. Cheryl Forchuk explains that the federal government used to oversee housing and homelessness until 1990, when it was then relegated to the provinces and territories.

 

Forchuk says public housing went from 100, 000 units being built per year to one thousand units across Canada, which limited the housing stock.

 

Lack of housing is one of the issues plaguing rural and remote communities when it comes to addressing homelessness, in addition to limited supports in housing and social support services and limited data infrastructure.

 

Forchuk says when it comes to data sources, Microsoft Excel is the most common method used for tracking shelter-less people due to organizations not being able to afford case management software.

 

She adds methods like the Pit Counts, By-Name Lists, and HIFIS [high-fihs] can lead to underestimated numbers of people experiencing homelessness due to the small number of communities that use them.

 

Catch part two of the interview with Forchuk this afternoon on Thompson Today.