Comox Valley homeless population doubles since 2020: report
New data shows a huge jump in the number of people experiencing homelessness in the Comox Valley.
There are roughly 272 unhoused people in the region, up from 132 in 2020, according to the Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC) report. In 2018, there were 117.
“They’re not just numbers. These are real people. They’re parents, kids, family members, friends,” said Bob Wells, mayor of Courtenay, which is the largest community in the region.
Roughly 72,000 people live in the Comox Valley, according to 2021 census data. Of the unhoused population there, eight per cent are youth under 25, while 65 per cent are adults between 25 and 54, and 27 per cent are seniors over 55.
“More than half the people, the reason they’re there is that they just can’t afford rent,” Wells said.
Substance use, mental illness and intimate partner violence are also major contributors to the issue, the report says.
This year’s count was done by the Comox Valley Coalition to End Homelessness over 24 hours on March 13 and 14 in Courtenay, Comox and Cumberland.
“The count represents a snapshot in time and is likely an undercount, as many people who are unhoused are not easily accessible or visible,” a news release from the City of Courtenay says.
Since the last count in 2020, new shelter spaces have been created.
“This can contribute to higher [homeless count] numbers by making sure more people are counted in these spaces than if they were not sheltered,” the report says.
Wells said the data is disappointing, but not surprising.
“Municipalities and the province are really doing everything they can. The challenge, really, is just that need is so great,” he said.
The B.C. Ministry of Housing says homelessness is a growing issue throughout the province.
“Since 2017, the province has nearly 77,000 new homes that have been delivered or are underway… including more than 800 homes in the Comox Valley Regional District,” a statement from the ministry said.
It says 401 new housing units are underway in the Comox Valley.
“We’re really trying to stay optimistic that we do have a plan,” Wells said. “We are working as hard as we can and we are going to keep working with everybody at the table to make sure we can solve this.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.