Lift Community Services has announced that there will not be a 2024 point-in-time homeless count in qathet region this year.
According to a media release from Lift, which partnered with the Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC) for the city’s inaugural count in 2023, that with no provincially coordinated count, Lift will have to wait until next year.
“The count is coordinated by the ministry of housing and BC Housing and administered by HSABC, who partners with local service providers to action the count in individual communities,” stated Julie Jenkins, housing services manager for Lift. “Because of the methodological and analytical complexities of this project, we’re unable to do a local count on our own.”
The 2023 point-in-time count took place during April last year. In a 20-hour period, 126 people were identified as homeless, or not having a place to stay and pay rent for at least 30 days, the release stated.
“For a variety of reasons, these counts are assumed to be an undercount,” stated Jenkins. “We suspect the true number of people without housing was higher at that time.”
Jenkins stated that she looks forward to the next count being announced.
“We’re invested in seeing what trends are occurring as a way to identify service gaps in the region,” she added.
Lift, which runs the region’s only emergency shelter, has advocated for additional housing supports in the community, including supportive housing, and affordable housing for youth, seniors, singles and families.
“We know that people are having a harder and harder time finding affordable, appropriate, long-term housing in the community,” stated Jenkins. “Services like emergency shelters are a stop-gap measure and not a permanent solution.”
Lift stated that it recently heard from community members who are concerned about encampments in the community.
“Especially as the weather warms up, we may be seeing more people sleeping outside,” stated Jenkins. “We know it’s a concern for community members, and we share that concern.”
Jenkins added that moving into summer, there is a lack of cooling spaces and other resources to keep people experiencing homelessness safe from extreme heat.
Lift advocates for extreme weather supports, including establishing cooling centres throughout the region, creating hydration stations, and increased outreach and support services to vulnerable individuals, the release stated.
“These measures can be lifesaving, not just for people experiencing homelessness, but for seniors and folks with chronic illness, too,” added Jenkins.
Join the Peak's email list for the top headlines right in your inbox Monday to Friday:prpeak.com/account/mailinglist.
