EVERYONE COUNTS IN HRM: Latest Point-in-Time Count Report Released, Revealing Critical Insights into Homelessness in HRM

HALIFAX, NS – May 28, 2025

The Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia (AHANS) and its partners today released the EVERYONE COUNTS IN HRM 2024 Point-in-Time (PiT) Count Report.

Conducted on November 25, 2024, as part of a cross-country effort to measure homelessness in centers across Canada, this vital count engaged 95 staff from 23 agencies, providing a critical snapshot to guide efforts addressing homelessness in HRM.

The Count identified a minimum of 1,132 individuals experiencing homelessness in

HRM (1,009 adults, including 40 unaccompanied youth aged 16-24, as well as 123

children). This figure is nearly double the 586 individuals counted during the last PiT

Count in 2022.

Key Findings:

• Reasons for Homelessness: 39% cited too little income, while 14% noted

  conflict with a spouse/partner.

• Duration: 75% had been homeless for at least six months in the preceding year, compared to 24% of individuals counted in 2022.

• Overrepresentation: Indigenous individuals (16% of count vs. 3.8% of HRM population) and Black/African Nova Scotians (19.3% of count vs. 4.7% of HRM population) are significantly overrepresented. Unsheltered homelessness disproportionately affects Black (23%) and Indigenous (26%) individuals compared to other populations (10%).

This report is more than numbers; it represents individuals and families,” says Michael Kabalen, Executive Director of the Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia.

“The data will empower our community to develop more effective housing solutions where everyone has the opportunity to thrive."

The PiT Count is a collaborative effort involving HRM, AHANS, and numerous

community partners, supporting national efforts to measure and reduce homelessness.

This report was made possible with generous support from the Government of Canada's

Reaching Home Program, the Government of Nova Scotia, Halifax Regional Municipality, and housing and homelessness serving agencies in HRM.

The full EVERYONE COUNTS IN HRM 2024 Point-in-Time Count Report is available

at www.ahans.ca.

FULL 2024 PiT REPORT

Media Contact:

Michael Kabalen- Executive Director, Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia, michael@ahans.ca