Rise in Calgary’s Homeless Population Slowed Down but Being Pressured by Migration

Calgary, Alberta – Oct. 25, 2012) –

This document corrects and replaces the press release that was sent today at 14:53 ET.

The Calgary Homeless Foundation (CHF) announced that while the number of people experiencing homelessness rose in an August 2012 point-in-time count, compared with theJanuary 2012 point-in-time count, the trend of homelessness rising on average of 15% per year since 1992 has slowed down. Both point-in-time counts were sponsored by Burnet, Duckworth & Palmer LLP.

The summer point-in-time count also indicated people experiencing homelessness are about 0.32% of the total population, the same percentage as in 2006. This is in large part due to the fact that through the 10 Year Plan to End Homelessness in Calgary (10 Year Plan), more than 4,000 men, women and children have received housing and support since January 2008.

On August 15, 2012, 3,576 people were experiencing homelessness, compared with 3,190 people on January 18, 2012. This represents a 12.1% rise, with the main increase being in the number of people sleeping outside (from 64 in January to 333 in August). The number of people staying in emergency shelters and short-term housing remained relatively stable.

“It is not unusual that summer point-in-time counts see higher numbers of people sleeping outside,” said John Rook, President and CEO of the CHF. “Prior to doing the summer count, we expected emergency shelter and short-term housing numbers would be higher too, because of migration to Calgary and a tight rental market. We were pleasantly surprised to see the numbers were flat.”

View full press release Rise in Calgary’s Homeless Population Slowed Down but Being Pressured by Migration

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