The results of the third annual Niagara Counts Homelessness Point-in-Time (PiT) Count are in.
The PiT Count provides a snapshot of homelessness at a single point in time.
The count took place on March 23rd, and showed a total of 665 people experiencing homelessness in Niagara.
This is up from 625 in 2018.
Of those 665, 121 were kids aged fifteen and under, and 76 were youths between the ages of 16 and 24.
In 2018, 21.1 percent of Niagara's homeless were youths between 16 and 24.
Seventy-nine percent considered Niagara their home community.
Nearly one quarter identified as Indigenous or having Indigenous ancestry, though only 2.8 percent of Niagara's population identifies as Indigenous.
Just over 66 percent had a high school education or greater, compared to 61.5 percent in 2018.
About 24 percent had experienced homelessness for the first time before turning 18 years old, which is down from 36 percent in 2018.
Over the past year, 42 percent of respondents had been homeless for at least six months.
The biggest reasons for the most recent housing loss include financial hardship, conflict with spouse/partner, conflict with landlords, addiction and unsafe housing conditions.
The Niagara Region says it'll continue working with partners at the Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre and Niagara Regional Native Centre to host events in the fall to offer guidelines into homelessness amongst Indigenous individuals.
The final report will be released in the fall.
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