Homelessness up by 53 people since 2023

A recent Point-In-Time (PIT) count revealed a 27 per cent increase in homelessness in Lloydminster over the past year.

The count was conducted with various community partners on Oct. 23.

The count identified 246 people unhoused in Lloydminster, up from 193 at the same time last year. The number of people sleeping on the streets or in cars has also risen from 49 to 63.

Part of the count is asking individuals to complete a survey on their current situation. Officials use the data collected to understand where to focus resources in the community.

A total of 136 individuals chose to fill out a survey regarding their living situation.

Over 70 per cent of those surveyed have called Lloydminster home for over a year.

The largest age group on the streets is 35-44 at 28 per cent. The lowest is under 18 at 9.1 per cent, while just over half of respondents were male.

A total of 68.6 per cent of of those surveyed identify as having a substance abuse issue while 63.1 per cent say they have some sort of mental health issue.

The survey also identified the three main causes of homelessness in the community: rent is too high, lack of income, and addiction.

Kagen Kneen, executive director of the Lloydminster Men's Shelter, says he took multiple lessons from the information provided in the PIT process and noted it aligned with their daily observations.

“The need for food, shelter, and clothing remains high, even when fewer people are visible during colder months,” concluded Kneen.

Kneen says it's important to know how many people are homeless in the community.

“It shows the number of vulnerable individuals who don’t have a place to call home,” he said.

The data also highlights homelessness is growing, driven by various factors.

“The count shows over 90 per cent of unhoused individuals want permanent housing,” he explained. “We need to keep providing wraparound services to help them find housing solutions.”

He hopes to see some action for the over 60 people without a housing option at night. The survey took into account the amount of people who are staying in shelters instead of without any housing options at all.

"The city is currently working on a solution for the immediate need of an emergency warming option for the unhoused community members," he said. "Between our emergency shelter and the shelter with the SPARK Foundation, we don’t have enough beds available to help give our unhoused community members a place to stay."

In the end, Kneen believes collaboration is key for long-term solutions and it can't be just the organizations coming up with them. He believes open conversation leads to better outcomes.

“We need the community to talk with organizations serving the unhoused and brainstorm solutions together,” Kneen said.

Kneen thanked the city and participants in the PiT count, noting its value in guiding future plans. “We can figure out long-term solutions for clients, organizations, and the community as a whole,” he said.