Homelessness in the GVRD

Executive Summary.

Research Project on Homelessness in Greater Vancouver.
July, 2002. Greater Vancouver Regional District.
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Growing Homelessness in Greater Vancouver,
(May, 2005). Columbia Journal
CPPNews - Recent research commissioned by the Greater
Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness
shows that rates of homelessness are increasing in the region
and the number of households living at risk of homelessness
in the region remains high.

Preliminary figures from the homeless count on March 15th
reveal that the number of homeless people in Greater Vancouver
has increased by over 100% since the homeless count in 2002. "
This doubling of the number of homeless counted on March 15th,
2005 reflects both an actual increase in the number of homeless
people in Greater Vancouver and improvements in the ability for
the volunteers to find the homeless" said Michael Goldberg, Research
Director at SPARC BC and coordinator of the 2005 Homeless Count.
The preliminary figures show that 2,112 homeless people were
counted during this year’s count compared to 1,049 in 2002. "
The increase in the number of homeless people, and especially
street homeless, is of great concern to all of us," said Bernie
Whiteford, Chair of the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering
Committee.

Recent research based on data from the last Census indicates that
over 126,000 people in over 56,000 households are at risk of home-
lessness in Greater Vancouver. At-risk households and the people
who live in them are highly vulnerable to losing their housing. The
data is based on the 2001 Census of Canada and provides the most
up-to-date information currently available on the at-risk population.
This data will be updated following the completion of the 2006 Census.

"While the rate of households at risk of homelessness has not
changed much from 1996 to 2001, we must remember that
there was little volatility in the cost of housing during that time"
said Daniel Garrison, Senior Planner at the GVRD Homelessness
Unit. "Given the rapid increase in housing prices over the last few
years, one could expect that the rate of risk of homelessness will
increase".

“This new research information will be quite helpful in planning
and developing strategies to prevent homelessness in the region,
said Cheryl Prepchuk, chair of the Regional Steering Committee on
Homelessness. The Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee
on Homelessness (RSCH) is composed of people and organizations
operating and funding facilities, services or programs targeted to
people who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness in the region.
The Aboriginal Homeless Steering Committee is composed of people
from aboriginal organizations serving the homeless population.
Both are dedicated to working with communities in developing
solutions to homelessness in Greater Vancouver.
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Draft Housing Plan for the Downtown Eastside.
Report to Vancouver City Council, May 6, 2005.
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The Homelessness Research Virtual Library.
University of British Columbia.