Preliminary statistics released by the 2014 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count show Richmond’s homeless population remains well below the per capita rate for municipalities as the cities of Vancouver and Surrey continue to bear the brunt of the region’s social problem.
It was found that only 38 of the 2,770 homeless found in the region were in Richmond.
The count, which happens every three years, was conducted by about 900 volunteers on March 12 in municipalities throughout the region. The purpose is to estimate the number and kind of people who are homeless, as well as gauge what services they use and/or require.
The total count is a five per cent increase since the 2011, up from 2,650.
“Regionally speaking, homeless numbers remain stable from previous years,” said Deb Bryant, chair of the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness.
“This shows that we’ve stemmed the tide of increasing homelessness and have achieved some stability – but we still have more to do to end and prevent homelessness,” added Bryant.
A total of 1,813 were considered “sheltered homeless,” meaning they were found in shelters, safe houses for youth or transition houses for women. This category also includes individuals with “no fixed address” staying temporarily in hospital beds, jails or detox facilities, stated a news release from the committee.
In Richmond, there were 22 unsheltered homeless found, as well as 11 in a shelter and five with no fixed address.
In 2011, there were 49 homeless while in 2008 there were 56.
Richmond’s lead volunteer organizer was Lynda Brummitt who noted the method isn’t without its faults, but the information that is gathered can help health and social service providers understand the needs of the general homeless population since there is little understanding of it as a whole.
“I think with Richmond, homelessness isn’t as visible. People may be couch surfing or living in cars. We know that the count is an underestimate and that’s particularly the case in a community like Richmond,” she said.
In Richmond, homeless people tend to live around shopping centres, parks or undeveloped green areas. The city has one year-round men’s shelter and one extreme-weather shelter.
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