The number of homeless people in the City of Vancouver has for the first time passed 2,000.
According to a staff presentation received by council today (October 4), in 2017, there are 1,601 people sleeping in shelters and 537 out on the street.
The total number of 2,138 homeless people living in Vancouver is up from 1,847 counted in 2016, 1,746 the year before that, and way up from 1,576 counted nine years ago, in 2008.
The figure for 2017 was determined via a city-wide count conducted on March 8. It’s likely lower than the actual number as it’s assumed some people sleeping on the streets, in their cars, and other places, were missed by the city employees and volunteers who conducted the tally.
The presentation includes information on characteristics of the homeless that are not surprising but still shocking.
bit.ly/2sOcwr3 via @georgiastraight
