Number of 'unsheltered' people in Yellowknife more than tripled in 3 years, report suggests
Point in time count done in city last fall found 5% increase in overall homeless population since 2021
The number of people considered "unsheltered" in Yellowknife saw a dramatic increase between 2021 and 2024, according to a new city report. That's even as the overall homeless population — which includes those in transitional housing or couch surfing — saw a much more modest increase over that period.
The data is included in a new report enumerating the city's homeless population. It's based on a point-in-time count done on a single night last October. The count was done by the city with federal funds.
It represents "the most detailed and comprehensive assessment conducted to date," according to the report. The counts are done every three years, with the last ones done in 2021 and 2018.
"This snapshot of homelessness provides valuable insights into the population experiencing homelessness on a single night, capturing individuals in shelters, transitional facilities, systems, and unsheltered settings," the report reads.
"This count serves as a critical tool for understanding homelessness trends, informing policy decisions, and shaping service delivery to meet the needs of the community."
Slight increase in people without homes
The latest count was done through voluntary surveys, an enumeration of people staying in shelters or transitional housing facilities, and also a count of people in public spaces who didn't agree to be surveyed but were "visibly experiencing homelessness."
The count found that the total number of homeless people in the city went up by about five per cent between April 2021 — when the last count was done — and last October, or from 312 people to 327 people. That figure is still lower than it was in 2018, when 338 homeless people were counted.
Of the 327 people counted last fall, 308 of them participated in the survey. That degree of participation "ensures the survey results are broadly representative of the overall homeless population," the report says.
The latest figures also suggest a more than threefold increase in the number of "unsheltered" people in recent years, going from eight people counted in April 2021 to 35 people counted last fall.
The report acknowledges, however, that seasonal differences may have contributed to the "notable rise in unsheltered homelessness," with the 2021 count done in April and the 2024 count done in October.
The number of people in transitional housing also went up over that period, from 120 in 2021 to 165 in 2024 — a 38 per cent increase.
Emergency shelter use, however, appeared to go down over that period. In 2021, 99 people were counted in emergency shelters compared to 87 counted last fall. Despite that point-in-time decline, the report notes the relative proportion of homeless people in emergency shelters has remained steady.
The report also highlights some other key statistics, including the fact that 85 per cent of the homeless population identifies as Indigenous. It cites the legacy of residential schools as a "critical systemic factor," with 65 per cent of those who were homeless saying their parents attended residential school, and 19 per cent saying they attended themselves.
Substance use and mental health issues are also relatively common among the homeless population, with 74 per cent reporting substance use issues and 41 per cent saying they struggled with mental health, including things like depression, PTSD and bipolar disorder.