Fewer sleeping on Vancouver streets since shelters opened

Fewer people seem to be sleeping on Vancouver’s streets compared with five years ago when the city’s first low- barrier shelters were opened, according to preliminary numbers from the city’s latest homeless count.

This year’s count, which took place over a 24- hour period on March 13, found 273 people sleeping outside — an 11- per- cent drop from 2012 and a 66- percent decrease from 2008 when there were 811 street homeless. Vancouver city councillor Kerry Jang said the decline is likely due to several factors. He said many homeless use the shelters as a stepping stone into treatment or better housing.

The city’s 2012- 21 housing and homelessness strategy requires the addition of 290 units of new supportive housing each year until 2021, and 500 new units of social housing.

A full report on the homeless count, including demographics, will be presented to council in July.