SAINT JOHN POINT-IN-TIME COUNT Key Highlights - 2023 Homelessness PiT Count in Saint John
WHAT IS A POINT-IN-TIME (PIT) COUNT?
A PiT Count is an enumeration and a self-report survey of people experiencing homelessness at a specific point in time. On April 17th and 18th, 2023, the Human Development Council (HDC), in partnership with the government of NB and community organizations, conducted its largest ever PiT Count, surveying people at homeless shelters, unsheltered locations, and correctional facilities across New Brunswick. A PiT Count is one tool of many that the HDC uses to understand the scope of homelessness in NB.
BENEFITS OF A PIT COUNT SNAPSHOT 128 people were counted as experiencing absolute homelessness in Saint John excluding corrections. For corrections data click here.
COMPARISON 131% more people were counted as experiencing absolute homelessness in Saint John in the 2023 Pit Count than in the 2021 Count.
SURVEY 108 surveys were conducted in Saint John.
VOICE PiT Counts are an opportunity for the homeless population to communicate their need for housing and the barriers preventing them from getting housed.
SURVEY RESULTS 59%
13%
Homel ess Shel t er
28%
Gender
Unshel t ered Ot her i n Publ i c (Enc a mpment , Spa c e Unsure, et c .)
66% Man 3 0 % Wo m a n
86% heterosexual 12% 2SLGBTQI+
4% Other
Income Sources
Chronic Homelessness
% With the Following: GST/ HST R ef und
13
Di sa bi l i t y Benef i t ( Prov i nc i a l B enef i t )
8
Seni ors B enef i t s
7
Inf orma l Inc ome Sourc es
4
83% on Social Assistance
77% reported being homeless 180 days or more in the last year.
Age of First Homeless Experience
Age of Participants
25%
42 31
was the average age of survey participants.
20%
Under 18
22%
18-27
16%
was the average age homelessness was first experienced.
28-37 6%
8%
48-57 58+
Education
Of those who responded to questions about residency...
42%
reported always being in the local community.
58%
reported moving to the community.
49%
24%
43% Some or Completed Post-Secondary High School/GED
Of those who moved said they moved from within NB.
Most Reported Reasons for Housing Loss
Less Than High School Completion
32%
Most Reported Challenges of Finding Housing 22% 22%
Not Enough Inc ome Spouse/ Pa rt ner Conf l i c t
13% 13%
La ndl ord/ Tena nt Conf l i c t
13% 13%
Unfit/unsafe housing
12% identified as Indigenous. For more Indigenous PiT Count data click here.
38-47
10% 10%
46% said their most recent housing loss was due to an eviction.
R ent s t oo Hi gh Not Enough Inc ome
70% 70% 67% 67%
Ment a l Hea l t h
21% 21%
Poor Housi ng Condi t i ons
21% 21%
SOCIAL SYSTEMS Youth In Care 31% of those surveyed indicated that they lived in foster care or a youth group home prior to experiencing homelessness. Of those 31% who gave a time estimate, 39% said they became homeless within a year of leaving care. Additionally, 84% of people who said they were in care and gave an answer regarding their thoughts on CPS said that CPS was not helpful in transitioning them to independence.
Emergency Services
In the past year...
Survey results indicate
Visited an E m e rg e n c y R o o m
69%
I n t e ra c t e d W i t h Police
56%
that people experiencing homelessness frequently interact with emergency services.
27%
We re I n c a rc e ra t e d
26%
We re H o s p i t a l i z e d
When asked if participants identified having any of the following health challenges, respondents reported: Mental Health
78%
Substance Use
77%
Health Services
46% of the people surveyed reported accessing addiction or mental health
Learning or Cognitive Limitations
50%
Illness or Medical Condition
services in the last 12 months. For more PiT
49%
Count data on health click here.
Physical Limitations
44%
RESOURCES Homelessness is a complex social issue that too many New Brunswickers are experiencing. For more information on the scale and circumstances of homelessness in New Brunswick, please visit our website at sjhdc.ca. For more information on homelessness in New Brunswick’s urban centres check out our homelessness dashboards by clicking here. To read past reports on homelessness click here.