sta302-miniessay-2

[scottyuan6]

Toronto has a sizable homeless population. Because of the harsh winters, it is vital that shelters have ample space. We want to know how the use of shelters differs in the colder months against the warmer months, and we want to know which city has the most demand for shelters. We use statistics on Toronto shelter bed occupancy given by the City of Toronto. Each night at 4 a.m., a count of the occupied beds is made. We're curious in the overall amount of these across the month and city. We cleaned, tidied, and analyzed the dataset using R (R Core Team 2023) as well as the tidyverse (Wickham 2017), janitor (Firke 2023), opendatatoronto (Gelfand 2022), lubridate (Grolemund and Wickham 2011), and knitr (Xie 2023).

In analyzing the shelter bed occupancy data for Toronto, a clear pattern emerges: Toronto consistently shows the highest number of occupied shelter beds, with North York ranking second. As the months progress from January to December, there is a noticeable increase in shelter bed occupancy. This trend is congruent with the intuitive notion that colder months drive a higher demand for shelter services. The data underscores the importance of ensuring adequate shelter capacity to meet the rising needs as winter approaches, and it highlights the need for targeted strategies to manage the seasonal influx in shelter usage.

[yinuolou]

How does shelter bed occupancy vary by season, and what might this suggest about the needs of the unhoused population throughout the year?

[yinuolou]

What policy recommendations could be made to better accommodate the unhoused population, based on the occupancy trends observed in the data?

[yinuolou]

Did the data show any significant trends in occupancy rates over the years, possibly indicating a growing demand for shelters?

[yinuolou]

Were there any particular months where the shelter occupancy rates were at their highest, and can this be correlated with specific weather patterns or events?

[scottyuan6]

Variation in Shelter Bed Occupancy by Season: Shelter bed occupancy varies by season, with higher occupancy rates during the colder months (fall and winter). This suggests that the unhoused population has a greater need for shelter and housing assistance when weather conditions are harsh, and they need protection from the cold.

Months with Highest Shelter Occupancy Rates: The analysis indicates that shelter bed occupancy rates increase as the months progress from January to December, with December typically having the highest occupancy rates. This pattern is consistent with the idea that the colder winter months drive higher demand for shelter services. While the analysis does not directly correlate occupancy rates with specific weather patterns or events, it implies that colder weather plays a significant role in driving people to seek shelter.

Trends in Occupancy Rates Over the Years: The provided analysis focuses on shelter occupancy data for the year 2023. It does not include historical data or trends over multiple years. To determine if there are significant trends in occupancy rates over the years, data from multiple years would need to be analyzed. Increasing or consistently high occupancy rates over time may indicate a growing demand for shelters, but this would require a more extended dataset to confirm.

Comparison of Occupancy Rates in Different GTA Cities: The analysis shows that Toronto consistently has the highest number of occupied shelter beds, followed by North York. This suggests that Toronto experiences a higher demand for shelter services compared to other cities within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Differences in occupancy rates between cities could be attributed to factors such as population density, availability of affordable housing, access to social services, and economic conditions in each city. Policy Recommendations for Better Accommodating the Unhoused Population:

While the analysis provides insights into occupancy trends, specific policy recommendations would require a more comprehensive examination of the data and collaboration with experts. However, based on the analysis and general knowledge of homelessness, some policy recommendations to better accommodate the unhoused population could include: Year-round Shelter Availability: Ensure year-round shelter options to meet the needs of homeless individuals during all seasons.

Affordable Housing Initiatives: Invest in affordable housing programs to address the root causes of homelessness. Seasonal Planning: Plan for increased shelter capacity and outreach efforts during the colder months to protect individuals from harsh weather.

Data Collection and Analysis: Continuously monitor and analyze shelter occupancy data to identify trends and allocate resources effectively.

Regional Collaboration: Collaborate with neighboring cities and organizations within the GTA to create coordinated solutions for homelessness that account for regional variations in demand.

It's important to note that addressing homelessness is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach involving housing, social services, mental health support, and more. Policy recommendations should be based on a thorough understanding of the local context and the needs of the unhoused population.