Victoria's Homeless

Justice.ca-- Victoria Homeless Needs Survey Complete Research Report Issued

Victoria - The final research report of the Homeless Needs Survey was released today by the Victoria Cool Aid Society, Community Council, Victoria Mayor Alan Lowe, and Saanich Councillor Judy Brownoff, representing the Capital Regional District.

The purpose of the Homeless Needs Survey (held February 5-9) was to gain a deeper understanding of what people who are homeless or unstably housed feel they need in order to find and maintain housing. Based on the survey of 815 homeless and unstably housed individuals in the Capital Region, from Sooke to Sidney and Salt Spring, the research report makes six basic recommendations:

• Create a range of affordable housing options in the Capital Region.

• Provide intensive community support for housing.

• Provide a range of harm reduction and treatment services.

• Provide income supports for people who are homeless or unstably housed.

• Provide short-term solutions during the transition to affordable housing.

• Engage the broader community in solutions.

"The survey provided a wealth of detailed information about what is needed by people in our community who are inadequately housed," said Community Council Researcher Jane Worton. "It also dispelled some common myths about those who are homeless."

• 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. "binning"), 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.

"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.

A CRD report released earlier this year showed that by following a housing-first policy government could save over $9.5 million annually - $12,000 a year for each person who is homeless. Supported housing would also help marginalized citizens integrate better into the community and improve the quality of life for everyone in the region.

"Homelessness is devastating for the homeless and wasteful for society in the added costs it imposes on the health system, police, courts and corrections. It is also harmful to the safety and attractiveness of our communities," said Saanich Councillor Judy Brownoff. "The Capital Regional District will play its part in helping eliminate homelessness by coordinating the efforts of all levels of government, business and the non-profit sector."

41% of respondents said that having a community outreach worker would help them find and maintain housing. Many require low-barrier housing that emphasizes ease of entry and ongoing support services.

42% of participants would like help finding work. The needed supports they identified include many simple, low-cost supports and services that the community can easily provide:

• Clothing, transportation (bus or other vehicle), trade tools & resumé assistance (75%).

• A shower, phone, personal storage and alarm clock (67%).

• Help to replace lost identification (56%).

Participants looking for work also asked for education and training (60%), accessible health and dental care, better physical and mental health care, and addiction or detox support and transition services (58%).

The top three factors cited by participants as contributing to their inadequate housing were alcohol or drug use (41%), medical problems (35%), and social or emotional challenges (27%). "We are recommending that a wide variety of primary health care and social services be located together in a single building in downtown Victoria," said Kathy Stinson.

The enumeration numbers have been revised upwards from preliminary estimates after careful review of the data. The Homeless Needs Survey counted 1,242 persons throughout the Capital Region who were homeless or unstably housed. This is an under-reporting of the actual numbers of individuals and families who are inadequately housed.

The full research report is available on www.Coolaid.org in the Homeless Survey newsroom. The Government of Canada has contributed funding to this initiative.