Why the city of London is using survey data to fight homelessness

Contrary to stereotype, most Londoners facing homelessness aren't sleeping outdoors or in alleyways.

In fact, according to recent data from an annual city survey, most were either staying in a shelter, a motel, transitional housing or at "someone else's place," with only six per cent staying in an unsheltered location.

That finding was among the many insights generated by the City of London's annual "Counting Our Way Home" project, which surveyed 406 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in 15 locations across the city in April this year.

The idea, said the city's manager of homeless prevention, Jan Richardson, is not to find out exactly how many people in London are homeless, but to understand more about their stories and backgrounds.

"All of this data we're starting to produce helps us look at what we need to do to solve the problem of homelessness," Richardson said. 

How homelessness happens

For many of those who responded to the survey, homelessness was just one of several problems they faced. More than half reported having a chronic medical condition, an addiction or a mental health issue. 

Homelessness, the respondents said, started early and could be difficult to escape. Sixty per cent of respondents were under 30 when they first experienced homelessness, and 62 per cent said they'd been homeless for six months or more in the past year.

"That is worrisome," said Richardson. "We really try and focus on that first episode of homelessness and those who are experiencing chronic homelessness so we can look at the solutions that are needed."

As for root causes, "relationship breakdown" and "abuse or trauma" were each separately cited by more than 50 per cent of respondents as the reasons behind their experience of homelessness. 

The simple cost of housing was another major factor, with "lack of financial resources" cited as the number one challenge to finding permanent housing, and "increased income" as the most important support that respondents said they needed.

Based on consistent results from this survey and previous years', Richardson said the city has started to move toward a system of "housing with support," with the aim of first getting Londoners into permanent housing, then helping them to work on the problems that led to homelessness, whether it be mental illness, trauma or violence.

"Where else but from the safety and wellbeing of home can you look at how to delve into those issues?" she said. 

By the numbers

Gender

• 63 per cent male.
• 34 per cent female.
• Two per cent two-spirit, genderqueer or another gender identity.
• One per cent transgender.

Age

• Three per cent 19 or younger.
• 21 per cent 20-29.
• 24 per cent 30-39.
• 25 per cent 40-49.
• 21 per cent 50-59.
• Six per cent 60 or older.

Indigenous ancestry

• 29 per cent identified as Indigenous or having Indigenous ancestry.

Foster care

• 32 per cent had been in foster care or a group home.

New to London

• 15 per cent moved to London in the last year.

Military

• Five per cent served in the Canadian military or RCMP.

Medical condition

• 51 per cent had a chronic or acute medical condition.

Substance use

• 57 per cent said they had an addiction.

Mental health issues

• 59 per cent reported having a mental health issue.

First experience of homelessness

• 60 per cent were under 30 when they first experienced homelessness.

Chronic homelessness

• 62 per cent experienced chronic homelessness, i.e. homelessness for six months or more in the past year.

Causes of homelessness

• 56 per cent identified homelessness as caused by a relationship breakdown.
• 53 per cent identified homelessness as caused by an experience of abuse or trauma.

Where survey respondents were staying

• 59 per cent in emergency or "violence against women" shelters.
• 18 per cent at someone else's place.
• Nine per cent in transitional shelter, housing or motel.
• Eight per cent in a location not known.
• Six percent in an unsheltered location.

Reported obstacles to finding permanent housing

1. Low income.
2. Addiction or substance use.
3. Availability of affordable housing.
4. Inability to meet requirements to secure housing.
5. Mental health issues.

What respondents say they need to find and keep housing

1. Increased income.
2. Availability of affordable housing.
3. Someone to help with finding and keeping housing.
4. Employment.
5. Rental or financial assistance.