Overview

• The count identified 5,232 people experiencing homelessness across 16 municipalities, a 141 per cent increase since 2005 and a nine per cent jump from 2023.
• Unsheltered homelessness surged to 1,893 individuals, up 30 per cent overall with Delta reporting a 115 per cent increase and North Shore, Ridge Meadows and White Rock each seeing over 60 per cent growth.
• Indigenous residents remain disproportionately affected, accounting for 54 per cent of unsheltered respondents compared with 42 per cent of non-Indigenous respondents.
• Lorraine Copas warns that homelessness is outpacing population growth and that existing shelter capacity is insufficient, urging service providers to leverage preliminary data for program planning and funding.
• David Wells calls on all levels of government to prioritize homelessness prevention strategies as stakeholders await the full report due in September.