Many Islanders close to homelessness: report

Homelessness on P.E.I. is more hidden than it is in other provinces, and the problem is on the edge of getting worse, says a new report on homelessness.

The new report card on homelessness, written by a coalition of government and private sector groups,points to a more serious issue amongst women than men. It found 242 people used a shelter last year: 117 women and 46 men. They stayed an average of 29 nights.

Ian Scott of the Salvation Army sees these people first hand, and how close some others are to losing their homes. But the problem is not always obvious.

"Homelessness here is more hidden. It's not as easily seen, but it's still there," said Scott.

"I think the number of people we have coming through on a day to day basis, while not necessarily homeless, simply may be one step away."

The report published statistics to support Scott's on the ground experience. It found 41 per cent of renters on P.E.I. pay more than 30 per cent of their gross income on housing, which leaves little for other necessities.

Frank Costa, one of the report's authors, said too many Islanders are having to make difficult choices in order to keep their homes.

"People are trying to hold on to their shelter and they can't afford to eat. Or, people are deciding I can't afford to keep my shelter and they're coming into the shelters, and they're affording to eat," Costa said.

"It's really not a good situation."

The shelters on P.E.I. include Bedford MacDonald House for Men, and three women's shelters, one specifically for victims of abuse. But the report does not recommend more shelters. Instead the authors suggest a longer-term solution: more low-income housing.

It showed there are 1,628 subsidized family and senior housing units, and there are 811 waiting to get into those units..

It also recommends increasing income assistance and disability support benefits.

"It's I think unfortunate that P.E.I. in 2010, that any province, has these kinds of issues that they have to deal with," said Sharon Cameron, deputy minister of community services.

"But the fortunate part is now we have [this report], and we can take a look at it."

There is one huge gap in services on P.E.I. There is no shelter on the Island that takes in youth under age 18 by themselves.

The advisory committee on homelessness is spending about $25,000 to study youth homelessness on the Island, and that report is expected some time this summer.