Homeless numbers growing in suburbs

Homeless numbers growing in suburbs

By Jeff Nagel - Langley Times

Published: September 20, 2008 12:00 PM

The number of homeless people has more than doubled in many parts of the Lower Mainland since 2005, according to the 2008 Homeless Count.

The 24-hour snapshot conducted by volunteers March 11 found 2,660 homeless people in Metro Vancouver - a 22 per cent increase from the previous count in 2005 and up 137 per cent from the first count in 2002.

While more than half the total homeless remain in the City of Vancouver (1,372), the numbers are up sharply in the outlying cities.
The Tri-Cities saw the biggest jump, up 140 per cent (91 homeless counted versus 38 in 2005).

The increase was 110 per cent in Burnaby (up from 40 to 84); 102 per cent in Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows (42 to 85); and 70 per cent in Richmond (33 to 56.)

Surrey had 402 homeless counted - up five per cent from 2005 - the second largest concentration of counted homeless in Metro Vancouver. Vancouver's numbers were up six per cent.

New Westminster (123, up 34 per cent) and North Vancouver (116, up 40 per cent) had the third and fourth largest homeless populations in the region.
Outside Vancouver city limits, homelessness climbed an average 35 per cent.
The final report, released Tuesday, gives the latest and most complete picture of the scope of the problem. It also uncovers disturbing trends about who is homeless.

Organizers pointed to the rising rate of homelessness among middle-aged people and seniors.

"We're seeing aging on the streets and aging in shelters," said Val MacDonald, executive director of the Seniors Services Society. "We're seeing increased numbers of seniors who have never been homeless in their lives but due to the absence of support services are now homeless."
The median age of homeless people counted was 41 in this count, up from 38 in 2005.