Vancouver City Hall says new numbers show the number of people sleeping on the street is on the decline.
New numbers from a 24 hour count on March 13 found 273 people sleeping outside in Vancouver, which is a 11 per cent decrease from 2012.
The city says it’s a 66 per cent decrease from 2008, when 811 people were found to be sleeping on the street. 2008 was also the first year of the controversial low barrier shelters, which have upset some Yaletown residents.
Mayor Gregor Robertson reiterated his plea to the provincial and federal government to build more social housing.
“We need a stable and reliable provincial commitment that full shelter funding will be made permanent, as well as the investments required to meet the urgent need for new social and supportive housing,” says Robertson.
Vancouver has committed $60 million in its 2012-2014 capital plan to support new affordable and supportive housing.
Over the next year, the city plans to open 100 new units of interim housing at the Howard Johnson on Kingsway; new low-income housing at the former Ramada in Collingwood and 260 units of supportive housing in collaboration with BC Housing.
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