There’s been a surge of more than 20 per cent in homeless numbers across the Fraser Valley Regional District since before the pandemic started.
Preliminary figures for the latest FVRD Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Survey were released Thursday (July 13), showing that 1,081 individuals said they were experiencing homelessness across the regional district territory in 2023, compared to 895 in 2020.
This marks an additional 186 people, or 21 per cent since the last homeless count in 2020, and a 163 per cent increase since 2004, when the first count was recorded.
FVRD board chair Jason Lum described the challenge of homelessness as one of the “most pressing” issue in the entire region in 2017, and this week he underlined that the valuable data from the count helps substantiate supports and resources for those experiencing homelessness.
“It is important to note the data is not intended to include a count of every person experiencing homelessness,” Lum underlined, adding that the “consistent” count methodology is used to measure trends in a given area.
RELATED: Last count was in March 2020
Service providers completed a 24-hour survey of homelessness in March 2023 across Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Kent, Harrison Hot Springs, Hope, and the unincorporated FVRD electoral areas, but the individual breakdown of those community numbers was not released.
Of the 1,081 individuals enumerated, 1,037 participated in the survey.
Survey results and the enumeration of those experiencing homelessness, which combines survey data plus full shelter beds on the night of the count, is used to improve supports for those experiencing homelessness, identify unmet housing needs, determine potential gaps in related health services, and support funding applications for local housing and homelessness initiatives.
Almost 20 years of data and survey findings have contributed to local, regional, provincial, and national understanding of homelessness. This work relies significantly on the collaboration and support provided by municipal staff and nearly one hundred volunteers in 2023 from more than 30 local service agencies and other stakeholder groups
A final report on the 2023 Homeless Point-in-time Count and Survey will be released this fall, and will include regional and community-specific summaries and breakdowns of enumeration figures and survey results.
RELATED: Homelessness in rural areas needs attention: Lum
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