The result of this year’s Point-In-Time Homeless Count will – among other things – help direct resources towards areas of greatest need.

That is according to the City’s Community and Emergency Supports Supervisor, Natasha Hartson.

Hartson tells Radio NL the count – which found 312 people experiencing homelessness in Kamloops this year – is one of many ways used to tell the story of homelessness.

“So it is sort of a catalyst,” she said. “It arms politicians, decision makers, service providers with data and with opportunity for advocacy.”

Advocates say the hidden homeless – like couch surfers or people living in their vehicles – are likely under-represented in a count like this.

Hartson says the count is meant to provide an estimate of how many are homelessness on any given day, and try to understand why they are in that situation.

“This information can help the politicians, the service providers apply for grants for example,” she said. “All of that type of thing is how more resources will be hopefully added to help support the challenges these folks are faced with.”

“The document itself and the information you get out of it is really the beginning of a conversation and the beginning of what we can do with it.”

You can read the full PIT Count report here.