Report on homelessness due today
Posted Nov 22, 2013 07:13:10 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
It’s National Housing Day and HRM is expected to release its Report Card on Homelessness this morning.
It measures the number of people who use shelters, affordable housing and other factors that determine the state of homelessness in our community.
Mayor Mike Savage will be the keynote speaker at the event.
Don Spicer, executive director of Shelter Nova Scotia, told News 95.7 it’s difficult to get an accurate count of those in need.
“There are people who are living rough, sleeping rough, living in their car, couch surfing or in other vulnerable positions that are not accessing shelters that we can’t count,” explained Spicer.
Last year’s report showed approximately 2,000 people use shelters in the region.
Spicer said awareness is important and homelessness is not just an issue in the world’s major urban centres.
“This isn’t just a situation that is in the big cities like New York or Toronto or Vancouver, it’s right here in our own communities,” Spicer said.
The report is part of the 3rd annual Conference on Housing and Homelessness which has attracted around 175 delegates from around the province.
