Victoria, BC - On March 26, 2025, and throughout the following day, the Community Social Planning Council (CSPC), with support from the Capital Regional District (CRD), will conduct the bi-annual Point-in-Time (PiT) Homeless Count and Survey. The project is funded by the Government of Canada with an investment of $134,096 through Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy.
Over a 24-hour period, trained volunteers will count and survey individuals who are staying in shelters, short-term housing, and sleeping rough (without shelter). The PiT Count survey will provide a “snapshot” of homelessness in the region and important information that improves understanding of the needs and circumstances of the people who are affected by homelessness in the community.
The survey data allows organizers to look at trends over time, but the larger enumeration (the actual count) is not comparable year over year. This data collected is critical as one of the tools that can help inform plans for both short and longer-term solutions that meet the needs of the unhoused. A detailed review and report will follow in the weeks following the PiT Count.
Volunteer Victoria will be joining to partner on the volunteer recruitment, training, and logistics on the day of the PiT Count and are seeking volunteers. Volunteers will be actively involved in meeting with, and recording information from, unhoused individuals willing to share their personal details. Anyone interested in volunteering is asked to contact Lisa Mort-Putland and ask about PiT Count volunteer positions.
Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy
Launched in April 2019, Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy is a community-based program aimed at preventing and reducing homelessness across Canada. This program provides direct support and funding to Designated Communities (urban centres), Indigenous communities, territorial communities and rural and remote communities across Canada to help them address their local homelessness needs. The Strategy also supports the goals of the National Housing Strategy, in particular, to support the most vulnerable Canadians in maintaining safe, stable and affordable housing and to reduce chronic homelessness nationally by 50 per cent by fiscal year 2027 to 2028.
The Government of Canada is investing more than $5 billion over nine years to address homelessness through Reaching Home. This includes a Budget 2024 investment of $1 billion from 2024-25 through 2027-28 to maintain current overall funding levels.
Capital Regional District
The CRD delivers regional, sub-regional, and local services to 13 municipalities and three electoral areas on southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. Governed by a 24-member Board of Directors, the CRD works collaboratively with First Nations and other government partners to enable sustainable growth, foster community well-being, and develop cost-effective infrastructure while continuing to provide core services to residents throughout the region. Visit us online at www.crd.ca.
Media Participation
Media are invited to contact the PiT Count Coordinator for more information. Ensuring the safety and anonymity of our participants is our utmost priority. The media will not be invited to accompany PiT Count volunteers.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andy Orr, Senior Manager,
CRD Corporate Communications
Tel: 250-360-3229
Cell: 250-216-5492
PiT Count Coordinator:
Shelley Cook
Executive Director
Community Social Planning Council
E-mail: shelley@communitycouncil.ca
Volunteer inquiries:
Lisa Mort-Putland
E-mail: lisa@volunteervictoria.bc.ca
