Atikokan, Ontario – 2024/11/06 – On November 20, 2024, the District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB), in collaboration with local service providers, will conduct a comprehensive Point-in-Time Count to better understand homelessness in the Town of Atikokan. This enumeration will provide valuable information about those experiencing homelessness in the area, helping to enhance service delivery and support planning for the community.

“The objective of this count is to provide a much deeper understanding of homelessness in a local context,” said Brenda Witherspoon-Bedard, Community Engagement Coordinator – Homelessness for the DRRSB. “With this data, we can plan better services for individuals and families in need and make informed decisions that will help end homelessness in Atikokan.”

The project will rely on the support of local community agencies, where service providers will assist individuals in completing the surveys. The Point-in-Time Count methodology will ask individuals where they slept on the night of November 20th, and those who indicate that they stayed in unstable or temporary housing will be eligible to complete the full survey.

“In collaboration with some of our service partners, we will gather accurate, real-time data that will improve our ability to respond to homelessness both immediately and in the future,” added Witherspoon-Bedard.

In addition to collecting this data, the DRRSB will be maintaining a By-Name List, a real-time record of every individual experiencing homelessness in the community. This will enable service providers to monitor progress and better tailor resources to meet the needs of those affected.

The results of the enumeration will be publicly available in the months following the count and will play a crucial role in shaping future service planning efforts across the Rainy River District.

Media release (PDF)