July 30,2025
RED FM News Desk
A newly released federally funded report reveals that homelessness in Metro Vancouver has increased by nine per cent over the past two years, with the sharpest rise seen among people living outdoors without shelter.
The Point-in-Time Homeless Count, conducted by the Homelessness Services Association of BC and Infocus Consulting, found that 5,232 people were experiencing homelessness in the region as of March. That’s up from 4,821 in the 2023 count. According to the report’s authors, the data highlights a lack of adequate shelter space across Metro Vancouver.
David Wells, chair of the Indigenous Homelessness Steering Committee for Greater Vancouver, said the findings should urge all levels of government to make homelessness prevention a top priority. He also pointed to a concerning disparity: 54% of Indigenous respondents reported being unsheltered—living outside without protection—compared to 42% of non-Indigenous respondents.
The report accounts for people in Metro Vancouver without a fixed address, including those staying in emergency shelters, transition or safe houses, or temporarily in hospitals or jails.
“We’re sharing this preliminary data now because it’s critically important for service providers, organizations, and policy-makers to consider as they plan, fund, and implement their programs,” said Lorraine Copas, chair of the Greater Vancouver Community Advisory Board for Reaching Home, another organization involved in the report.
“Homelessness is increasing much faster than the region’s population growth,” Copas added, “and that clearly shows our current shelter capacity is falling short.”
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