VICTORIA MAYOR SPEAKS
Mayor Alan Lowe, City of Victoria, (250)361-0200, mayor@victoria,ca
According to this survey more than 1,242 of our neighbours in the Capital Region are homeless or nearly homeless. This survey cost $100,000 (raised through a combination of tax dollars and charitable donations) used the services of 250 volunteers during a one-week survey, which recorded responses from 815 homeless and unstably housed individuals in the Capital Region. Only 3% of the surveyed population do not want permanent housing.
17% of homeless people have jobs, 32% are engaged in non-traditional work (e.g. “binningâ€), and 42% want help finding a job or a better job.
78% identified the lack of affordable housing as their main barrier to being housed.
Homelessness is not imported: 73% are from the CRD and 16% from elsewhere in BC, mostly Duncan and Vancouver; only 11% are from elsewhere.
People are homeless throughout the region: 73% were from the four core municipalities, 4% from the Western Communities, 3% from the Saanich Peninsula, and 4% from Salt Spring; a further 16% did not disclose their municipality.
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“All levels of government need to work together, alongside non-profit and private housing providers, to ensure that sufficient affordable housing, and appropriate supports, are available to those in need,†said Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe.
