'Alarmingly high': Homelessness in Regina up 255 per cent since 2015, according to study

There are currently 824 people in Regina who are experiencing homelessness, according to the 2024 point-in-time homelessness count.

The count, conducted by Namerind Housing Corporation, says that is an overall increase of 255 per cent, going from 232 in 2015 to the current 824.

It is also up from 488 in September of 2021, according to the report.

The study says that the largest increases were between 2018 and 2021 when homelessness numbers rose by 71 per cent and 2021 to 2024 when that number increased by another 69 per cent. Of the total number of people experiencing homelessness the study says 63 per cent of them were completely living without shelter.

The study also indicated that despite making up only about 10 per cent of Regina’s population, 75 per cent of individuals who responded to the study were Indigenous.

“Seventy-five per cent of Regina’s homeless population identifies as Indigenous, compared to 10 per cent of Regina’s general population,” the study reads.

Many respondents to the study also claimed to face substance use challenges, 71 per cent. Another 54 per cent said they were battling one or more mental health conditions.

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Nearly 30 per cent of the 824 also live with children, 37 per cent of which are under the age of five.

“The increase in homelessness is alarmingly high, increasing by two-thirds in each of the last two counts,” Namerind Housing Corporation said in the study.

-- More to come…