Whitehorse homeless count reveals 'unacceptable' problem, advocates say

Nearly one per cent of Whitehorse's population is either homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, according to a count done this spring.

The "Point-in-Time", or "PiT", count was organizedby several local groups, including the Council of Yukon First Nations and the Yukon Anti-Poverty Coalition.It was funded by the federal government, as part of alargerinitiativeto get a handle on the problem as it existsacross Canada.

• Advocates plan for point-in-time homeless count in Whitehorse

"My initial reaction was, these numbers are high," said Bill Thomas,chair of the Yukon PlanningGroup on Homelessness.

"It really told me that the situation here in Whitehorse is unacceptable."

The Whitehorse PiT count, which was conducted over 24 hours between April 13 and 14, found 256 people either homeless or at risk of homelessness, representing roughly 0.8 per cent of the city's population.

• 44 people "absolutely homeless", orliving on the streets
• 33 people homeless but staying in emergency overnight shelters
• 42 people living in temporary, insecure accommodation
• 137 people whose housing situation is "precarious", or does not meet public health and safety standards.

The federal initiative was focussed on the "absolute" homeless, but Thomas says the Whitehorse count aimed to provide "a more extensive picture" by also counting those in unstable housing situations.

"It gives us, I think, a better picture of the reality of the situation here in Whitehorse," he said.

'The resources are there'

It's not clear how reliablePiT count numbers are. A similar count done last year in Yellowknife was criticized by some as inaccurate, even called a "waste of time."

The organizing groups in Whitehorse acknowledge that it can be difficult to exactly quantify homelessness, since the population tends to be mobileand sometimes hidden.

But, Thomas believes the Whitehorse numbers should still give pauseand then prompt action.

"Can it be resolved? I definitely think...I know so, not think so.I know so.

"My feeling is the resources are there, we just have to be determined that we're going to use those resources and develop and build the right kind of accomodation."

Thomas expects more money to come through Canada's Homelessness Partnering Strategy. The KwanlinDn First Nation is also partnering with the City of Whitehorse to develop a plan to end homelessness.

"We have far too many good people in the communityand many resourcesto do something about it."