Street Census – End Homelessness Winnipeg

2022 Street Census Report and Recommendations

EHW_202211_Street Census Infographic_v4 Download

The 2022 Winnipeg Street Census took place on Wednesday, May 25, 2022

The Street Census is Winnipeg’s Point-in-Time Count. Point-in-Time Counts gather a one-day snapshot of homelessness in the city, contributing to a national picture. Every few years, communities across the country participate in similar Point-in-Time Counts. Information is gathered during a single, 24-hour period in two main ways:

A brief survey conducted face-to-face along walking routes and in designated locations by volunteers
Data provided by community organizations and government agencies

The Street Census is more than just a tally of the number of people observed experiencing homelessness on a single day. Street Census survey questions reflect national standards, as well as input from local Lived Experts, researchers, outreach workers, service providers and public service staff. Information gathered includes the number of people experiencing homelessness, where they stayed the night before the survey, and demographic data like age, gender, Indigeneity or newcomer status. No personally identifying information is collected.

Surveys are conducted by hundreds of trained volunteers, deployed in small teams. All volunteers are aged 18 or over and commit to 2.5 hours of training as well as 4 hours on the day of the Street Census. Training covers interviewing and survey recording, cultural safety, personal safety, ethical research, confidentiality and consent. All survey teams include both Lived Experts and service providers, wherever possible. Debriefing is available to all volunteers. In addition to the information gathered by these surveys, some data is provided by agencies and governments for people staying in institutional settings like hospitals or prisons who do not have a permanent address.

Any enumeration of people experiencing homelessness will only provide an estimate. Homelessness is a temporary situation, marked by a high level of mobility between different living situations and environments, for most people who experience it. People who have lost their housing are not a static group that can be found in a single location, neighbourhood or age bracket. Though Street Censuses cannot tell us for certain if homelessness is increasing or decreasing in Winnipeg, the information gathered can indicate trends in population demographics and sheltering choices. These trends can point to service needs, so that community organizations, funders and all levels of government can better work together to prevent and end homelessness.

The first Winnipeg Street Census took place in 2015. The second occurred in 2018. Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Street Census was postponed. An Interim Point-in-Time Count was conducted in 2021 and a complete Street Census is planned for May 25, 2022.

The Street Census is funded by Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy

For more information, please contact streetcensus@endhomelessnesswinnipeg.ca