FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, June 28th, 2016

Giving Voice
A Results Report from Peterboroughs 2016 Point in Time Count of Homelessness
Today standing in the dining hall of Brock Mission Jim Russell, CEO of
United Way Peterborough and District released to the community the results of the first ever
Point in Time Count of homelessness in Peterborough. Stating, a coordinated response to the
issue of homelessness in any community starts with understanding the issue from the point of
view of the person experiencing homelessness. To that end United Way was designated the
Community entity to receive funding through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy,
Peterborough was one of thirty-one communities across the country that took part in conducting
this ground-breaking research.
PETERBOROUGH, ON

For 14 hours on March 22, 2016, 50 volunteers went out in teams to conduct surveys on the
street, in shelters, and at meal programs across the city, asking such questions as: Where are
you staying tonight? How many different times have you experienced homelessness? What do
you think is preventing you from finding and keeping long term stable housing? What emerged
from that undertaking was a story of individuals young and old, educated and working, some
suffering from addiction, some fleeing abusive relationships, some agonizing over family
breakdown, and most wanting to have their story told and understood.
The 60 page report titled Giving Voice is a detailed snapshot of people who were absolutely
homeless on March 22 of this year, some highlights:
A minimum of 120 people were homeless in Peterborough on March 22nd, 2016.
54% were chronically homeless having spent over 6 months homeless in the past
year.
64% experienced homelessness for the 1st time before their 26th birthday.
20% have attended post-secondary school.
98% have some form of income.
The top 3 reasons for homeless among participants were: family breakdown, addiction/substance
abuse, and unsafe housing.
Joining Russell was Erica Richmond, PiT Coordinator who presented in detail, results from the
study and Lisa Smith, Director of Philanthropic Impact who highlighted the call to action and the
alignment to the Citys 10-year Homelessness and Housing Strategy.

Russell concluded by encouraging the public to review the report and to reflect on next steps in
our community to have a strategic focus on ending the painful reality of homelessness.
The full report is available
www.uwpeterborough.ca.

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United

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Peterborough

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For more information, please contact;

Jim Russell, CEO
United Way Peterborough & District
T: 705-742-8839
E: jrussell@uwpeterborough.ca

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website: