At least 166 people deemed homeless on one day in St. John’s, N.L.: report
ST. JOHN’S, N.L. — Hundreds of people — including dozens of youth — are forced to sleep at emergency shelters, friends’ homes and in parks throughout the year in St. John’s, N.L., according to a unique report that measured homelessness in the city.
End Homelessness St. John’s released the province’s first homeless point-in-time count Tuesday, finding that at least 166 people were homeless in the city last Nov. 30, when the count was conducted. That included 38 people between the ages of 16 and 24.
Shawn Skinner, the group’s chairman, said the information was gathered by 100 volunteers who fanned out through the city last year to count people on the street, while also using data from shelters and other institutions.
“It supports our plan by providing information about the demographics of our local homeless population as well as insight into the factors that cause and perpetuate their homelessness,” he said in a statement. “Our findings underscore the fact that those experiencing homelessness want housing and appropriate supports.”