The report, titled “2023 Homeless Count in Greater Vancouver,” details the findings of snapshot surveys conducted in 11 communities over a 24-hour period. These so-called point-in-time surveys have taken place every three years since their inception in 2005.
Notably, 4,821 individuals were identified as experiencing homelessness in this year’s count, compared to 3,634 in 2020, representing the largest increase measured between counts since the counts began in 2005, the report says.
According to the survey, 8 percent of the respondents experiencing homelessness were youth (those under age 25), and 22 percent were seniors (55 years or older). The survey noted that these age groups are more likely to be experiencing hidden homelessness and less likely to be found on Count Day, for example due to not being among those staying in shelters, accessing services, or found living unsheltered.
Nearly 70 percent (69 percent) of the respondents reported experiencing homelessness for a duration of one year or more, while 20 percent said they had lost their housing for a period of less than six months, according to the report conducted by Homelessness Services Association of BC.
When asked about the cause of their most recent housing loss, the most common reason cited was insufficient income (35 percent), a finding consistent with the 2020 survey results. Additionally, substance use issues (24 percent) and mental health issues (16 percent) were the two other most common reasons.
The report noted that both substance use and mental health issues are treatable medical conditions, indicating that these needs often remain unaddressed in individuals at risk of housing loss. Furthermore, it highlights that unmet health needs serve as a barrier to returning to stable housing, with 53 percent of respondents reporting a mental health condition and 71 percent reporting an addiction.
Ravi Khalon, British Columbia’s Housing Minister, emphasized the need for urgent action in light of these results.
The Belonging in B.C. plan, introduced in Budget 2022, is part of a $19 billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the province has nearly 77,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway, including more than 7,000 supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness, the government said.
The report says the greatest percentage increases in homelessness between 2020 and 2023 were recorded in Delta, Richmond, and the Tri-Cities (Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, and Coquitlam), while Vancouver, Burnaby, and Surrey saw the greatest changes in the total number of people experiencing homelessness. The other 5 of the 11 communities surveyed in the Greater Vancouver region were North Shore, Ridge Meadows, New Westminster, White Rock, and Langley.
Lorraine Copas, chair of the advisory board that coordinates federal funding in Greater Vancouver through the Reaching Home program, said in a statement that many people are experiencing “hidden homelessness” and under-represented in the counts.
