2016 Count Summary

On October 19, 2016, the City of Grande Prairie conducted its fifth bi-annual Point in Time Count of homelessness (Count). Grande Prairie coordinates the Count as part of its work supporting Grande Prairie’s Five Year Plan to End Homelessness and participation in Alberta’s 7 Cities on Housing and Homelessness Network. 2016 was Grande Prairie’s most comprehensive Count to date, and the first year offering survey respondents follow-up support from Housing First programs and/or the Street Outreach Team. A Count serves two important functions: it provides a current snapshot of the city’s homeless population, and shows how homelessness changes over time, informing program and policy.

All members of Alberta’s 7 Cities network conducted a Count on October 19th, 2016 between 7:00p.m. and midnight using a standard survey and harmonized definitions. Provincially, 5367 people were counted as experiencing homelessness. The majority of people experiencing homelessness were counted in Calgary (60%) and Edmonton (30%).

How Many People Were Counted in Grande Prairie?

127 people were counted as experiencing homelessness in Grande Prairie 50% of people counted were experiencing chronic homeless
A 23% decrease was seen in the number of people counted in comparison to 2014

Where Were People Sleeping?

9% unsheltered
40% emergency sheltered
50% provisionally accommodated

Who Was Experiencing Homelessness?

32% indigenous (compared to 10% in the general population) 13% under age 18 (including dependents)
8 families
61% male/ 37% female