In an effort to address the concern of homelessness in the region, Hastings County performed a Homeless Enumeration Report in 2021 to outline areas of concern and recommendations to better support these communities of homeless and unhoused people.
Continuing the discussion on how to end homelessness in 2023, the City of Belleville, Hastings County and the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) hosted local stakeholders and community partners on April 13 to discuss solutions for ending homelessness in our community.
The day consisted of presentations from Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, interviews with individuals with lived experience, a panel discussion on what it takes to end homelessness with representatives from the municipalities working through their own homelessness action plans, and a roundtable session with invited guests from the various community organizations and partners.
- Watch it on YouTube
- Presentations
Targets and metrics
Goals and metrics for ending homelessness were presented and discussed by the group during the 2023 Homelessness Summit:
| Aim Target | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Confirming and sustaining a reliable By-Name List | By-Name List data reliability within a 5% error margin Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness (CAEH) Confirmation of a quality By-Name List |
| Improved information sharing and reporting of homelessness data | By-Name List data shared with the community in a quarterly infographic report Annual provincial and federal data reporting |
| Improved Coordinated Access System development (including expansion of health and justice partners) | Increased number of participating community homeless-serving partners (including health and justice service referral partners) Increased community connection and access points to the By-Name List CAEH confirmation of a quality Coordinated Access System |
| Complete a housing/homelessness resource needs-gap analysis; use it for provincial and federal funding advocacy efforts | Completed housing/homelessness resource needs-gap assessment that identifies housing resources required based on By-Name List homeless population characteristics Documented provincial and federal advocacy efforts Increase in provincial and federal funding investments |
| Expanded transitional housing units and housing allowances to support housing affordability | Increased numbers of transitional housing units Increased number of housing allowances |
| Reduce chronic homelessness by 25% by March 2027 | Reduced number of chronically homeless households on the By-Name List Reduced number of chronically homeless households captured in community Point-in-Time Counts |
| End veteran homelessness (reach Functional Zero) by April 2025 | Three or less homeless veterans on the By-Name List A sustainable Coordinated Access Homeless Servicing System that can house a homeless veteran within 30 days |
Attendees from the summit included: Bay of Quinte MP Ryan Williams, Bay of Quinte MPP Todd Smith, Hastings—Lennox and Addington MPP Ric Bresee, representatives from surrounding municipalities, Bridge Street United Church, Grace Inn Shelter, John Howard Society, Salvation Army, Youth Hab Belleville, Canadian Mental Health Association Hastings Prince Edward, Quinte Health Care, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health Unit, Belleville Police Service, Quinte Home Builders’ Association, All-Together Housing and more.
The day consisted of presentations from Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness, interviews with individuals with lived experience, a panel discussion on what it takes to end homelessness with representatives from the municipalities working through their own homelessness action plans, and a roundtable session with invited guests from the various community organizations and partners.
Each community partner taking part in the event had a chance to voice their concerns, thoughts and ideas. At the end of the day, a number of draft aims and measures for ending homelessness were presented and discussed by the group, including:
- Confirming and sustaining a reliable By-Name List
- Improved information sharing and reporting of homelessness data
- Improved Coordinated Access System development (including expansion of health and justice partners)
- Complete a housing/homelessness resource needs-gap analysis; use it for provincial and federal funding advocacy efforts
- Expanded transitional housing units and housing allowances to support housing affordability
- Reduce chronic homelessness by 25 per cent by March 2027
- End veteran homelessness (reach Functional Zero) by April 2025
Members of the public who would like to provide comment are encouraged to complete the online Homelessness Summit Aims Feedback Survey. Those who require accessibility supports to fully participate in the online survey are asked to contact [email protected] so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
“We are very pleased with the progress made today,” said Mayor Neil Ellis. “By bringing all of our partners together in the same room, we were able to develop actionable items and timelines that we as a community can work towards to address this crisis locally. Belleville City Council is eager to get started on these items and working towards a Belleville where everyone has a place to call home.”
More information and updates will be posted as they are made and available at: Belleville.ca/EndingHomelessness
City of Belleville statement regarding the Summit on Homelessness
We are very pleased with the progress made today
By bringing all of our partners together in the same room, we were able to develop actionable items and timelines that we as a community can work towards to address this crisis locally. Belleville City Council is eager to get started on these items and working towards a Belleville where everyone has a place to call home.
Mayor Neil Ellis
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