Vancouver, BC

Homelessness in Vancouver

According to the 2008 Homeless Count for Greater Vancouver, homelessness in the region has dramatically increased by 137% since 2002.  Street homelessness has increased by approximately 450 people since 2005.

The homeless population is ageing.  People aged 45 years old and over have increased by 42%.  This demographic represents 38% of the total homeless population.  Street entrenched women are seeing a significant increase; there has been a growth of 16% since 2005.  Indigenous people represent only 2% of the census population, but they comprise 32% of the homeless population; that’s 852 individuals, a 30% increase since 2005.

Shelters are not a permanent solution.  32% of homeless population counted on the night of March 11th, 2008 addressed the issue of shelters.  They expressed that these spaces are deterring because they have high incidence of bed bugs, restrictive rules, noise, theft, and limits on how long they can stay.  From what has been mentioned, these spaces are not safe or secure; they are a temporary solution but should not be relied on as a permanent strategy.  The only solution is affordable housing for all!

On March 11, 2008 there were 2,660 homeless people counted region-wide, including 364 young people under 25 years of age, 270 of which were unaccompanied. On the night of the count, shelters, safe houses and transition houses turned away 269 adults.

All information above extracted from:

Click to access web_2008_Count_Executive_Summary_FINAL_Sept_15.pdf