Nanaimo PiT Count

To capture a snapshot of people facing homelessness in our community, Nanaimo will participate in a national point-in-time count on April 27, 2023, along with many other Canadian communities.

Led by the Canadian Mental Health Association Mid-Island, Nanaimo Centre for Justice Education and Research, and United Way Central & Northern Vancouver Island, trained volunteers will survey individuals staying in shelters, short-term housing and sleeping rough on the streets. The count will indicate the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness.

The point-in-time count is funded by the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, and relies greatly on the participation of the community to succeed. In order to manage the count, we are seeking a large number of volunteers to conduct surveys and by being part of a point-in-time count community event.

The purpose of the count is to estimate the minimum number of people experiencing homelessness on a typical night. The PiT count is conducted every 2-3 years and includes both a tally and a survey. The information that is collected during the count will be used by local agencies, service providers and government to help plan appropriate programs and services for people experiencing housing problems or homelessness