Preliminary results from the 2013 Toronto Street Needs Assessment indicate that this city’s homeless population has not changed much from 2009.

The survey estimates the overall homeless population at 5,219 about one per cent higher than the 2009 estimate.

But the number of homeless people living outdoors increased by 24 per cent this year compared to 2009.

Among the key findings of the one-night survey:

The number of people aged 61 and older who are homeless  has more than doubled since 2009 and now stands at 10 per cent.

Along with that  the survey indicates that health care services especially hospitals and ambulances are now the services used most often by homeless people in Toronto.

The interim report is available on-line at:

www.toronto.ca/housing/SNA2013.htm.