Midwestern

Huron County Presented With Homeless Study Findings

Huron County's Homelessness Program Supervisor told county councillors this week that a study to measure the level of homelessness in the county produced some surprises.

However, Erin Schooley also suggested the number didn't reflect the extent of the problem because some people don't want to admit they're homeless. Schooley says the figures that most concerned her were the number of young people, between the ages of 11 and 20, that are experiencing homelessness.

“That is the scariest number I think because we do understand that it is a precursor to chronic homelessness so we've love to be able to get that number down," says Schooley.

Schooley also points out that women are over represented in the numbers and part of the reason for that is people living in a shelter are considered homeless. She points out the Provincial definition of homelessness includes people who are precariously housed which means they don't have the security of knowing where they're going to be down the road.

"So that's why the shelter was included, it gives them a really true picture because if the shelter didn't exist they would absolutely be on the streets, but conversely they don't have that security of knowing where they're going to be in six months or a year's time," says Schooley.

Schooley says the results of the study will be passed on to the Provincial government to help determine funding going forward.

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