Ahead of formal count, Timmins expects to see increase in homeless population

Timmins to count city's homeless population This fall, the Cochrane District Services board will take part in a coordinated effort to measure homelessness in the area.

This fall, the Cochrane District Services board will take part in a coordinated effort to measure homelessness in the area.

The city's participation is part of a nationwide survey to get a snapshot of how many people don’t have a place to call home.

Like many other Canadian towns and cities, Timmins has hundreds of people who either sleep in encampments, sleep in shelters, sleep rough or couch surf.

And it’s time for every municipality to take count of individuals who experience homelessness.

Throughout October and November, the Cochrane District Services Board, its community partners and volunteers will participate in a nationally coordinated point-in-time homeless count.

"The federal government, through the Reaching Home program, is mandating service managers and municipalities to complete the point-in-time count," said Natalie Hollok of the Cochrane District Services Board.

"They do that … approximately every three years. So that is why we're doing it right now. This is important because we want to be able to receive the funding needed in our communities and for our organizations to better be able to address the situation of homelessness."

The last survey was conducted in 2021 and local officials believe the count will be higher this time.

"Since the last count, I definitely think there are a lot more people that are experiencing homelessness in various forms," Hollok said.

Officials said results from the count will be publicly available sometime next spring and the results will help communities improve their response to homelessness.

Every community within the Cochrane District Social Services Board will be included in the nationwide count.