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Red Deer homeless count numbers made public

Initial results of Red Deer’s first point-in-time homeless count show 279 people were sleeping on Red Deer streets last month.

Initial results of Red Deer’s first point-in-time homeless count show 279 people were sleeping on Red Deer streets last month.

The city homeless count was conducted on Oct. 16.

Of the 279 people, 95 or 35 per cent were sheltered and 184 or 66 per cent were unsheltered, meaning they were encountered in parks, on the streets or sidewalks, at drop-in centres, or at meal programs.

The count showed 37.1 per cent were under the age of 25; 31.4 per cent were female; and 44.4 per cent were self-reported as aboriginal.

The City of Red Deer with the Red Deer and District Community Foundation conducted Red Deer’s count to determine the overall scope of homelessness and provide a baseline to inform strategies for ending homelessness in Red Deer.

An official report will be released in mid-December.