For the first time ever, the City of Abbotsford conducted its own Point-in-Time (PiT) Homeless Count in 2024 and a total of 465 people were identified as experiencing homelessness.
That's an increase of 14.5 per cent from the 2023 count, which was conducted by the Fraser Valley Regional District.
The City was tasked with the count this year as part of its role in administering funding through the Government of Canada’s Reaching Home program.
The 2024 Count was carried out by Mennonite Central Committee BC, in collaboration with local service providers and with contributions from individuals with lived and living experience, and was fully funded through the aforementioned program.
Numbers were counted during a 24-hour period from Oct. 8 to 9, 2024. This marks the fifth straight time the count has increased, as 2023 was 406, 2020 was 333, 2017 was 274 and 2014 was 151. The low point occurred in 2012 when 117 were counted as homeless.
Of those counted 57 per cent were sheltered, while 43 per cent were unsheltered, including people living in encampments or vehicles. The age range was 50 per cent of respondents between the ages of 30-49 and 17 per cent were 60 or older. The vast majority of those counted were men at 63 per cent, another 36 per cent were women and one per cent as another gender identity.
A total of 34 per cent of all respondents identified as Indigenous, which is a large number considering they make up just 5.2 per cent of the Abbotsford population. Of those 34 per cent, more than half stated that themselves, a parent or grandparent attended Indian residential schools.
Insufficient income was the identified by 33 per cent as the reason they are homeless, 32 per cent was due to family issues, 27 per cent due to issues with landlords and 26 per cent was due to health reasons. If indoor day spaces were available, 92 per cent of all respondents said they would use them. A homeless shelter was a frequent location to stay with 69 per cent saying they used one in the past year. Another 58 per cent said they stayed outside in a public place, 51 per cent in an encampment, 42 per cent at someone's home, 35 per cent in the hospital and 34 per cent in a vehicle. Those asked were told to choose all that apply.
About two-thirds (66 per cent) have been homeless for more than a year. Health challenges are an issue for the respondents, with 97 per cent reporting at least one health-related challenge and 54 per cent had concurrent mental health and substance use disorders. At the time of the count in October, 210 shelter beds were available in Abbotsford, of which 197 were occupied.
“Homelessness and the risk of homelessness is a complex issue and remains a growing concern in Abbotsford,” stated Abbotsford mayor Ross Siemens. “Behind every number is a person, and the information gathered through this count helps us to better understand and respond to the needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our community.”
The City stated that they remain committed to working collaboratively with outreach workers, local service providers and other partners to respond to the complex needs reflected in the report. They added that they continue to work with other senior governmental departments to find a solution.
They also pointed out that the City does not use municipal property tax dollars to fund services that full under the jurisdiction of other levels of government, and focuses its efforts on coordination, advocacy, and strategic partnerships that align with our municipal role.
To read the full results of the study, visit abbotsford.ca/people-community/homelessness-community-development/homelessness-action-plan.
