City of Greater Sudbury's latest homeless count shows 500 people are unhoused

The unofficial number of people experiencing homelessness in Sudbury, Ont., is now upto 500.

The city conducted its "point-in-time" count on Tuesday night of this week.The previous point-in-timecount held in October 2021 identified 399 people experiencing homelessness.

This latest count included surveys done at the city's jail and at the local hospital, Health Sciences North.

These counts give communities and social administration boards an idea of what the need level is, andalso have to be done as part of the requirement for federal funding to help battle the issue.

"We are using those numbers to identify populations that needsupport. There may be populations that are over represented in our homeless communities," said Cindy Junkala, the city's coordinator for homelessness and shelters.

Junkala told CBCRadio that the count also helps with the planning and funding of outreach efforts.

"The numbers also helpus direct resources to the greatest areas of need. Going forward, for example, we are looking to open an extra 75 warming spaces for this coming winter."

The city says the data will be reviewed and a full report will be released to the public early next year.

The Nipissing District Social Services Administration Board finished its count Thursday morning and is still tabulating its results. The Cochrane District is doing its count today. In 2021, it had counted 312 people experiencing homeless.