By Alex Soloducha

Homeless people left out in the cold

May 26, 2015 | 7:13 AM

A local study recently estimated how many people in Prince Albert don’t have a place to call their own, and often don’t have a roof over their head.

The results of the 2015 Prince Albert Homeless Count were presented at the Mahon Auditorium in the John M. Cuelenaere Public Library on Monday afternoon.

The majority of research was gathered on March 17 from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Researchers set out to determine the number of homeless people in the city by including those living on the street, those living in shelters and individuals who had identified as homeless at shelters and other places that offer support within the past six months.  

Their findings led to an estimate of 273 homeless people in Prince Albert. Sixteen are labelled absolute homeless, literally living on the street, 95 are sheltered homeless and 161 are classified as hidden homeless, crashing with friends and family, moving on when they exhaust their current options.

Dr. Chad Nilson, research and evaluation consultant, led the project. After a short three-month deadline, he was eager to present the findings. 

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“It tells us and it tells policy makers that we do have homelessness in Prince Albert and we need to start working together to combat it,” he said.

Personally finding it eye-opening, Nilson said he expects a similar reaction from the public.

“To be honest, I’ve lived and worked in Prince Albert almost all my life and it really did surprise me how many absolute homeless we have here,” he said. “Even in the winter we have people living in the streets, in the back alleys, in the bush.”

“You don’t have to go to New York or Boston, you can come to Prince Albert and people are struggling with homelessness.”

According to the survey, there are various reasons why people end up homeless. The main reason: addictions. Other factors include negative relationships, lack of affordable housing, and poor money management.

“When people spiral downwards usually the last thing that gives out is their home,” said Nilson. “Poverty and addictions and mental health and violence are the big factors for homelessness in society.”

What’s really needed, Nilson said, is continued support and continued attention.

“You can’t just give them one referral and expect them to get better,” he said. “You need that continuous guidance, that continuous support and I think that’s what Homeward Bound is providing to them.”

Nilson credits programs like Homeward Bound with leading push against homelessness. It places people who are classified as absolute homeless and living on the street, into their own homes. Other programs working towards the same goal include Our House, YWCA, and P.A. Safe Shelter.

Brian Howell, manager at Riverbank Development Corporation, which administered the study, said in contrast to others, the findings weren’t a surprise to him.

“We know there are a lot of hidden homeless in the city of Prince Albert, and a lot of people are very concerned about their families and relatives and friends and they will give them a couch or a basement.

MLA for Prince Albert Northcote, Victoria Jurgens, said so far provincial programs like the ministry of social services’ cold weather cot program have had major benefits.

 “I’ve been told many times that that has made a very big difference. So that’s always heart-warming,” she said.

According to Jurgens, a housing program recently implemented by the Sask Party will allow people to pay a percentage of what they earn for housing instead of a set rate.

Students have been doing their part too to help homeless people in the community.

First Nations University students in Prince Albert were at the Indian and Metis Friendship Centre on Monday to hand out clothes to the homeless, as part of their class project.

asoloducha@panow.com

On Twitter: @alex_soloducha