Regina updates unhoused population stats with Point in Time count

Over one hundred volunteers gathered at the Mamaweyatitan Centre on Tuesday night to help conduct the 2024 Point In Time (PIT) Count.

Over one hundred volunteers gathered at the Mamaweyatitan Centre on Tuesday night to help conduct the 2024 Point In Time (PIT) Count.

The count is intended to gather data surrounding Regina's unhoused population. Volunteers are sent out in groups to speak with community members and conduct anonymous surveys, which are then passed on to the federal government to help make financial decisions for community funding.

The numbers prove useful to the municipal government.

"It allows you, again to plan and to advocate for expansion of shelter space, expansion of supportive housing and treatment beds ... That data that comes back in is unbelievably valuable when it comes to planning and advocating and understanding how to keep going with what it is we managed to build over the last four years," Regina Mayor, Sandra Masters said.

The Regina city council recently moved forward on plans for a new shelter space located at 1600 Halifax Street.

While the financial outcomes are a major factor, organizers expressed that the PIT count is done for many reasons.

"I think I always feel like it gives people a feeling like somebody actually cares. Even though it's a 15 or 20 minute or half hour conversation. Somebody cared about them for a half hour and it means a lot," Robert Byers, president & CEO of Namerind Housing Corporation said.