Homeless Numbers Rise in Metro Vancouver

Many municipalities are seeing increases in homeless people

Every three years there is a count of the homeless people in Vancouver and the surrounding municipalities, and sadly the numbers are getting higher in every area, many of them are indigenous and seniors.

Counting was conducted by the Homelessness Services Association of BC and the statistics are shockingly high in areas like Delta with a 159 percent increase, 91 percent in Richmond, and 86 percent in the Tri-Cities (Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam an Port Moody). Surrey has seen a 65 percent increase to 1,060 who don't have a proper roof over their heads.

Vancouver has the highest number of homeless at 2,420, but among the slowest growth at 16 percent compared to 2020.

Many homeless are indigenous and seniors

Indigenous people are hit the hardest -- they only make up 2.4 percent of the populations, but are one-third of the homeless population. Seniors are next along with LGBTQ+, youth in the foster care system, and visible minorities. 

This year 4,821 people across the region are experiencing homelessness, a 32 percent increase since 2020; homeless advocates say this is the "minimum" number, and there are probably many more that volunteers could not find.

The count was conducted on March 7 and 8 this year, finding people in shelters, transition houses, hospitals, police cells, alleys, doorways, parks and vehicles. At the time of the count, two-thirds had a temporary roof over their heads, while the rest were unsheltered, either sleeping outside, living in a tent, or couch surfing.

In addition one in five were over the age of 55, and 10 percent of them said they were experiencing homelessness for the first time as a senior.

"The number of seniors have been going up significantly, and that's really challenging. In an environment with ever increasing food costs and housing costs, seniors are disproportionately being impacted," said Stephen D'Souza, executive director of the Homeless Services Association of BC.

More than two-thirds of the respondents had experienced homelessness for at least a year, a significantly larger number since the last survey in 2020.

The main reason is the skyrocketing rents that have made it so difficult for people on low-income budgets to afford, along with cost of living, substance abuse and mental health issues. 

Another interesting point is that the homeless population is mostly made of people from Vancouver -- they are not people who migrated from other parts of the country. Four out of every five people were homeless in the community where they used to be housed. 

Mayors blame the province for not building low-income housing fast enough, while the BC government claims the federal government isn't doing enough to release more funds.

The blame game hardly helps the situation -- all levels of government need to earnestly tackle the issue of homelessness quickly and effectively before more people lose their homes in the next few years.