Media Release
For Immediate Release
May 24, 2011
2011 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count Finds Same Number of Homeless But More People Using Emergency Shelters
(Metro Vancouver, BC) Today, the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness and the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee released a Preliminary Report on the region’s fourth homeless count conducted on March 16. The overall number of people found on count day was down by 37 people (or 1%) from the previous count in 2008. Statistically, the number of homeless remains virtually the same.
“This is the first time since the Count began in 2002 where the overall number of homeless found did not increase,” remarked Patrick Stewart, Chair of the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee. “At 24% however, the number of Aboriginal people in the homeless population is still disproportionately high.”
“It’s encouraging that efforts by provincial, local and federal governments are getting more people off the streets and into shelters,” said Wayne Wright, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Housing Committee. “However, the lack of affordable rental housing in the region is putting low-to-moderate income young people, families and seniors at risk of homelessness. Addressing this needs to be a priority for all levels of government as well.”
“54% fewer people said they had spent the previous night outside, and we know this percentage would have been a lot higher without the work of community non-profits, governments and private funders housing and supporting people” explained Alice Sundberg, Co-Chair of the Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness. “Unfortunately, the shift of people from outdoors into shelters did not hold true with our youth population. The Count found not only a 29% increase in unaccompanied youth under 25, but also a lower percentage of youth using shelters compared to the overall population.”
Since 2002, decision makers, funders and community agencies have relied on the count conducted every three years (2002, 2005 and 2008). The homeless count is an important tool to better understand Metro Vancouver’s visible homeless population, although it is always an undercount.
Funding for this critical initiative was provided by the United Way of the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Foundation, City of Vancouver, and the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Fund.
The methods and implementation of the count are overseen by the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness and the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee. OrgCode Consulting, Inc. was retained as the Research Consultant for the Count.
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For more information or interviews contact Helesia Luke
hluke@ethosstrategygroup.com | Office: 778.786.2838 | Cell: 778.858.0553
The 2011 Homeless Count Preliminary Report is now posted below
2011 Homeless Count Preliminary Report
Data and reports on previous counts can be found here.
Read more about the Homeless Count in the media.
Metro Vancouver homelessness count casts a wider net
Jessica Linzey | Globe and Mail | March 17, 2011
Homeless numbers up, but more shelters mean fewer on streets
Sam Cooper | The Province | March 17, 2011
Homeless Count Underway
The Canadian Press | March 16, 2011
Metro Vancouver homeless count targets youths
CBC News | March 16, 2011
Hundreds of volunteers help with homeless count in Metro Vancouver
Yolande Cole | The Georgia Straight | March 16, 2011
Count on for Langley homeless
Matthew Claxton | Langley Advance | March 16, 2011
Click here to read the 2011 Homeless Count media release and backgrounder.
The 2008 Comparative Community Profiles.
This report complements the 2008 Homeless Count by providing in-depth analysis of the count by community.
Click here to download 2008 Comparative Community Profiles.
