by Nainika Banger and Grace Kim
Canada is known to have an amazing quality of life, and Vancouver is one of the most populated and advanced cities in the country. However, with the cost of living and housing prices on the rise, the number of those who are homeless has also gone up.
What does the situation look like?
This year, the Homeless Count provided preliminary results of 3634 homeless individuals in the Metro Vancouver Area, an increase of almost 30 people from the previous regional count in 2017. Even though the overall count has increased, Vancouver’s homeless population appears to have dropped, (2095 individuals compared to the 2223 individuals counted in 2019), countering the consistent upward trend in previous years.
Of those in Vancouver, the 2019 Homeless Count found that the majority reside in the Downtown Eastside, with about a quarter of the homeless population identifying as women, very few as non-binary, and the majority as men. Indigenous people were also overrepresented, making up 39% of the homeless population while forming 2% in the general population. Almost 70% were between the ages of 25-54. 17% were 55-64 years old, 7% over the age of 65, 7% between 19-24, and 0.8% were under 19 years old.
Why is homelessness an issue?
There are many different causes of homelessness and not every story is like another. Anyone who ends up in such a situation does not choose to be there but is often pushed into it by a variety of causes...
1. Lack of Affordable Housing
2. Insufficient Funds
3. Lack of Support Services
When looking into these 3 very different causes you can find deep-rooted issues of not the people but the city itself.
Lack of affordable housing:
There is a lack of affordable housing here in Vancouver and it is a key factor in the number of homeless people the city has. However, the city has amazing programs and housing policies compared to the other provinces. BC has a waiting list in place for social housing and it consists of 10,550 individuals, which is a 50% increase since the federal withdrawal from the new housing supply. HOMES BC is stepping in the right direction to help lessen the gap left by the federal government but the supply of affordable is not even close to enough yet.
Insufficient funds:
BC benefits are in place to help shelter clients. However, The shelter component of it is inadequate compared to the average market rent, especially in major city centres. The ministry-funded beds are also put in place to help BC benefits but they are for those with first priority so again such benefits are not able to help everyone who needs these services.
Lack of support services:
Looking deeper into the shelter clients here in Vancouver you can see a significant increase of clients with mental illness and/or addictions. There has been a 88% increase in shelter clients with mental illness since 1987. In addition, around 32% of shelter clients facing substance abuse. Throughout the province, a total of 10% of shelter clients face both mental illness and substance abuse. It can be difficult to find the proper support to work towards recovery, and even where resources are found, they are often small in number.
How can you help?
Here are 4 organizations you can help support!
1. Covenant House focuses on homeless youth and provides a transition program that helps them out of their difficult circumstances. You can support Covenant House and their mission by donating, hosting a fundraiser, or volunteering!
2. The Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre was founded in 1978 and is a safe place for women and children. By donating, volunteering, or participating in their Run for Women this month, you can help DEWC provide support for women and children in unsafe and difficult situations.
3. The Greater Vancouver Food Bank supports about 8500 people weekly by providing healthy ingredients and nutritional programs for households with children. They operate in Burnaby, New Westminister, North Vancouver, and Vancouver, so those interested in volunteering have a range of locations they can help out at! Donating, fundraising, and running a food drive are other actions you can take to help.
4. SHARE Food Bank operates in the Tri-Cities and distributes food items on a weekly basis. SHARE Society also provides specific services and programs for different groups, such as refugees and youth. You can volunteer, donate, host a fundraiser, and support their events!
For more information and lists of desired donation items, as well as specific volunteer and fundraising opportunities, check out their websites!
Finally, don’t ignore those on the street! Flash a smile, say hello, or start a conversation. Some people who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness say that the loss of dignity is difficult to handle. Remember that people on the streets did not choose to be there, but are often forced by their circumstances.
There are many organizations and actions you can take to support those who are homeless. Help make someone’s day a little brighter!
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