Homelessness in Brandon saw dramatic jump in 2024: BNRC
Chronic homelessness also on the rise
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/01/2025 (238 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
The number of people who are homeless in Brandon has increased dramatically during the past four years, a new report says.
The report, released on Thursday, stated that at least 229 people lived homeless in Brandon in October, when the most recent count took place.
Released by the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation (BNRC), the report also focused on chronic homelessness becoming an issue of growing concern. It pegged the average number of days survey respondents reported being homeless during last year at 211.
Rushana Newman, executive director of the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation (BNRC), is shown in the reception area of the non-profit. A report released by BNRC on Thursday said the number of people who are homeless in Brandon has increased dramatically during the past four years. (Michele McDougall/The Brandon Sun files)
“The data suggests, that at the very least, one-third of survey respondents are experiencing chronic homelessness,” the report pointed out.
Prepared by Michele LeTourneau, PiT (Point-in-Time) count co-ordinator at BNRC, the report entitled “Everyone Counts 2024” also highlighted a nearly 80 per cent jump in the number of homeless people counted in the community since 2021.
While that growth in homelessness numbers seems large, it might be an over-representation, LeTourneau noted. The 2024 count likely presented a more accurate picture than in 2021, as pandemic-enforced restrictions at the time prevented BNRC’s team from using the best outreach methods to achieve a more accurate count.
“This reality skews the PiT Count numbers from 2021, and this should be kept in mind when comparing data,” said LeTourneau. “During the pandemic, Brandon, like capitals and regional hubs across Canada, saw an influx of people migrating to larger centres. While the PiT count might have seen increased numbers, a magnet event could not be held due to pandemic restrictions.”
A magnet event was held at Princess Park in 2024, drawing people who are homeless, in part so that they could be counted. The BNRC report stated this was a crucial event that helped count the number of homeless individuals, which did not take place in 2021.
“The numbers and details we gathered will help improve our understanding of the needs and circumstances of the people who are affected by homelessness in our city,” BNRC executive director Rushana Newman said in a press release on Thursday.
Surveyed individuals, who were asked about how long they have lived in Brandon, showed that 29 out of 70 came to the Wheat City during the past three years. Eighteen said they had been in Brandon for less than a year.
In 2021, there were 129 people who were counted as homeless in Brandon. This figure was estimated to be 121 in 2018, down from 206 in 2016.
BNRC’s latest report factors in the count that took place on Oct. 17 last year with the help of more than 50 volunteers.
» cmcdowell@brandonsun.com