There were almost twice as many people in Richmond without adequate shelter compared to three years ago.
About half of these people were staying in emergency shelters, while the other half were living on the street, in cars or makeshift shelters when the count was done in March.
The Point in Time count, whose results were released on Thursday, showed there were 162 homeless people in Richmond, a 91-per-cent increase from 2020 when this number was 85.
The number of people staying outside of emergency shelters, either in makeshift shelters, in cars or in vacant buildings, rose from 25 in 2020 to 80 in 2023.
The Point in Time count has been done since 2005, using the same methodology. The writers of the report, the "2023 Homeless Count in Greater Vancouver," note the count indicates trends but doesn’t necessarily capture all homeless people.
In the Lower Mainland, homelessness, according to this two-day count, increased by 32 per cent.
Across the region, 4,821 people were found to be without permanent shelter, an increase of almost 1,200 since the 2020 count.
Interviews were conducted with the homeless, and many said they had underlying issues such as addictions, mental health and medical conditions.
Since the last homeless count, a 40-unit temporary modular building with supportive housing, Aster Place, opened close to Costco.
The first such building in Richmond opened in 2019 at the corner of Alderbridge and Elmbridge ways.
