The City of Yellowknife's homeless population has grown since 2021, albeit slightly.
Its point-in-time (PIT) count, conducted last October, reported 327 people experiencing homelessness in Yellowknife. In 2021, that figure was 312.
The city's newly-reported statistic is also a slight change from what the municipality told SA国际影视传媒 this past January. At that time, city spokesperson Sarah Sibley said the count identified 332 people experiencing various degrees of homelessness in Yellowknife.
The report stated that the count was the most detailed and comprehensive assessment conducted to date. It also had some controversy attached to it, as the city clashed with the federal government over whether there was any approval to give cigarettes to homeless people who participated in the survey. Nonetheless, the municipality apologized for doing so.
In its latest report, the city notes a sharp increase of unsheltered people, to 35 from eight since 2021. Unsheltered people are those living in places not intended for human habitation, whereas a homeless person could still be living in a shelter, for example.
"This group now accounts for 11 per cent of the total homeless population, a significant increase from just three per cent recorded in 2021," the city states.
Indigenous people also remain disproportionately affected by homelessness in Yellowknife, comprising 85 per cent of the population. Nearly two-thirds identify as First Nations, 17 per cent as Inuit and five per cent as Metis, according to the city.
Three-quarters of those surveyed reported substance use challenges, the city notes. About half said they have mental health challenges.
Eviction plays a significant role in housing loss, according to the city's findings, with 30 per cent of all respondents saying they were evicted. That translates to 91 people. The report does not note whether any of those evictions were public housing related. According to a separate document that SA国际影视传媒 obtained via an access to information request, Housing NWT reported that Yellowknife only had five public housing evictions last year.
"The data emphasizes the need for comprehensive eviction prevention strategies while highlighting the importance of understanding and addressing various pathways to housing loss," the city states.
It also mentions that since this survey was done during a different time of year (the previous survey happened in April), the season could have played a role in the increase in homelessness.
Between this survey and the one in 2021, 2018 still has the highest count of homeless people. Also conducted in April, the city reported having 338 homeless people at that time.
