This report reviews the results of the Homelessness to Housing Stability 2012 Data Summary Report (attached as Appendix 1) and the 2012 Emergency Shelter Data Report (attached as Appendix 2).
In previous years, the Homelessness and Housing Umbrella Group (HHUG) released an annual two-page report card summarizing homelessness and rental housing data for Waterloo Region. Funding to complete this project was time-limited, and has now expired. As the HHUG will no longer be producing a report card, Region of Waterloo Social Planning, Policy and Program Administration in partnership with Planning, Housing and Community Services are committed to producing an annual data summary report to help inform the community of current trends in housing and homelessness in Waterloo Region. The 2012 Homelessness to Housing Stability Data Summary Report (the “Data Summary Report” attached as Appendix 1) does not provide “grades” but covers similar topics such as emergency shelter use, income, rental housing affordability and availability, and supportive housing.
Analysis of the Data Summary Report shows significant increases in the number of people accessing emergency shelter in Waterloo Region. Between 2008 and 2012, there was a 45 per cent increase in bed nights, and a 24 per cent increase in the number of people accessing emergency shelter. Further, the number of families accessing emergency shelter has grown 229 per cent, from 65 families in 2008 to 214 families in 2012.
With these unprecedented increases in emergency shelter use, it is timely to provide more detailed 2012 Emergency Shelter Data Report (attached as Appendix 2), which includes trends from 2006 to 2012. This Emergency Shelter Data Report is also intended as a tool with which to report on trends in homelessness for use by community stakeholders, advocates and agencies who serve people experiencing homelessness.
Both of these reports support community planning efforts regarding both short term and longer term housing needs, and provide information used by the Region and many agencies and groups for community education and advocacy. Trends illustrated in the Data Summary Report and the Emergency Shelter Data Report are discussed below.