FW: Because you are all part of the solution - GOOD NEWS!

Pages in this section: Homeless Count How to help Resources       Home Media About Us Homelessness Action Week 2010 Gallery Community Calendars BC & Yukon Whitehorse Prince George Kamloops Kelowna Nelson Nanaimo Victoria Abbotsford Mission Chilliwack Metro Vancouver North Shore Vancouver The Tri-Cities Maple Ridge Surrey Burnaby Richmond Langley and Aldergrove New Westminster Sponsors Resources 2010 Print and Web Resources Community Challenge Green Graffiti Project Homeless Connect Radio PSAs 2009 Campaign 2008 Campaign Election Kit Youth Working Group Street Smarts Learn More Homeless Count How to help Why are people homeless? What can I do? What can businesses do? Volunteer Resources Articles Quiz Videos What’s Working Research Links Teacher’s Guides Media Release For Immediate Release May 24, 2011 2011 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count Finds Same Number of Homeless But More People Using Emergency Shelters (Metro Vancouver, BC) Today, the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness and the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee released a Preliminary Report on the region’s fourth homeless count conducted on March 16. The overall number of people found on count day was down by 37 people (or 1%) from the previous count in 2008. Statistically, the number of homeless remains virtually the same. “This is the first time since the Count began in 2002 where the overall number of homeless found did not increase,” remarked Patrick Stewart, Chair of the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee. “At 24% however, the number of Aboriginal people in the homeless population is still disproportionately high.” “It’s encouraging that efforts by provincial, local and federal governments are getting more people off the streets and into shelters,” said Wayne Wright, Chair of Metro Vancouver’s Housing Committee. “However, the lack of affordable rental housing in the region is putting low-to-moderate income young people, families and seniors at risk of homelessness. Addressing this needs to be a priority for all levels of government as well.” “54% fewer people said they had spent the previous night outside, and we know this percentage would have been a lot higher without the work of community non-profits, governments and private funders housing and supporting people” explained Alice Sundberg, Co-Chair of the Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness. “Unfortunately, the shift of people from outdoors into shelters did not hold true with our youth population. The Count found not only a 29% increase in unaccompanied youth under 25, but also a lower percentage of youth using shelters compared to the overall population.” Since 2002, decision makers, funders and community agencies have relied on the count conducted every three years (2002, 2005 and 2008). The homeless count is an important tool to better understand Metro Vancouver’s visible homeless population, although it is always an undercount. Funding for this critical initiative was provided by the United Way of the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Foundation, City of Vancouver, and the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Fund. The methods and implementation of the count are overseen by the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness and the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee. OrgCode Consulting, Inc. was retained as the Research Consultant for the Count. -30- For more information or interviews contact Helesia Luke hluke@ethosstrategygroup.com  |  Office: 778.786.2838 | Cell: 778.858.0553 The 2011 Homeless Count Preliminary Report is now posted below 2011 Homeless Count Preliminary Report Printable Media Release Media Backgrounder Data and reports on previous counts can be found here. Read more about the Homeless Count in the media. Metro Vancouver homelessness count casts a wider net Jessica Linzey | Globe and Mail | March 17, 2011 Homeless numbers up, but more shelters mean fewer on streets Sam Cooper | The Province | March 17, 2011 Homeless Count Underway The Canadian Press | March 16, 2011 Metro Vancouver homeless count targets youths CBC News | March 16, 2011 Hundreds of volunteers help with homeless count in Metro Vancouver Yolande Cole | The Georgia Straight | March 16, 2011 Count on for Langley homeless Matthew Claxton | Langley Advance | March 16, 2011 Click here to read the 2011 Homeless Count media release and backgrounder. The 2008 Comparative Community Profiles. This report complements the 2008 Homeless Count by providing in-depth analysis of the count by community. Click here to download 2008 Comparative Community Profiles. About Us | Legal | Home | Campaign: 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 | © 2006-2010 Homelessness Action Week

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From: judy.graves@vancouver.ca
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Subject: Because you are all part of the solution - GOOD NEWS!
Date: Wed, 25 May 2011 00:32:21 +0000

 

2002 - 2005 Count - homelessness doubled

2005 - 2008 Count - rate of the growth of homelessness slowed a little (some targeted resources were added)

2008 - 2011 Count - rate of homelessness stabilizing and in some places stopping (more targeted resources added)

 

We are turning the tide. For the first time since I can remember.

 

What worked:

 

- stating the goal "end involuntary street homelessness in 6 years"

 

- treating homelessness with a "Disaster Response" model - off the streets, into the shelters, out of the shelters into stable housing, and as better housing is built - into better housing. Make the fancy plans after homelessness is stabilized and everyone is indoors. (Same as they are doing in Japan and Slave Lake.)

 

- see "everyone as part of the solution." Involving everyone.

 

- no single best practice, "many best practices." Using as many different tools as possible, at the same time. Always using the philosophy of "housing first" lower case. Outreach, low barrier shelters, harm reduction, quality food, leading not sending, supports in housing, keeping friends and family and pets together. Care for the worst first.

 

- radical hospitality - "everyone come in, have something to eat, stay the night, come as you are."

 

- First Things First - most desperate need - the street homeless. Make the hard choices and move forward.

 

- "Finish what you start" Dear Friends, we have turned the corner, but we are not done.

 

Today we celebrate a remarkable achievement. Since 2008 the over-all population in Vancouver has grown quickly, prices of condos have soared, cost of rent increases dramatically, low-rent market housing has been destroyed by dis-investment, fire, and grow-ops. Still, the number of homeless in Vancouver has increased by only 25, and the number sleeping rough on our streets has decreased from 815 to 145. The suffering you have ended cannot be measured.

 

CELEBRATE TODAY!

 

Celebrating will give us the strength to get back to work tomorrow, to finish what we started.

 

--Forwarded Message Attachment--

Pages in this section: Homeless Count How to help Resources       Home Media About Us Homelessness Action Week 2010 Gallery Community Calendars BC & Yukon Whitehorse Prince George Kamloops Kelowna Nelson Nanaimo Victoria Abbotsford Mission Chilliwack Metro Vancouver North Shore Vancouver The Tri-Cities Maple Ridge Surrey Burnaby Richmond Langley and Aldergrove New Westminster Sponsors Resources 2010 Print and Web Resources Community Challenge Green Graffiti Project Homeless Connect Radio PSAs 2009 Campaign 2008 Campaign Election Kit Youth Working Group Street Smarts Learn More Homeless Count How to help Why are people homeless? What can I do? What can businesses do? Volunteer Resources Articles Quiz Videos What's Working Research Links Teacher's Guides Media Release For Immediate Release May 24, 2011 2011 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count Finds Same Number of Homeless But More People Using Emergency Shelters (Metro Vancouver, BC) Today, the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness and the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee released a Preliminary Report on the region's fourth homeless count conducted on March 16. The overall number of people found on count day was down by 37 people (or 1%) from the previous count in 2008. Statistically, the number of homeless remains virtually the same. "This is the first time since the Count began in 2002 where the overall number of homeless found did not increase," remarked Patrick Stewart, Chair of the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee. "At 24% however, the number of Aboriginal people in the homeless population is still disproportionately high." "It's encouraging that efforts by provincial, local and federal governments are getting more people off the streets and into shelters," said Wayne Wright, Chair of Metro Vancouver's Housing Committee. "However, the lack of affordable rental housing in the region is putting low-to-moderate income young people, families and seniors at risk of homelessness. Addressing this needs to be a priority for all levels of government as well." "54% fewer people said they had spent the previous night outside, and we know this percentage would have been a lot higher without the work of community non-profits, governments and private funders housing and supporting people" explained Alice Sundberg, Co-Chair of the Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness. "Unfortunately, the shift of people from outdoors into shelters did not hold true with our youth population. The Count found not only a 29% increase in unaccompanied youth under 25, but also a lower percentage of youth using shelters compared to the overall population." Since 2002, decision makers, funders and community agencies have relied on the count conducted every three years (2002, 2005 and 2008). The homeless count is an important tool to better understand Metro Vancouver's visible homeless population, although it is always an undercount. Funding for this critical initiative was provided by the United Way of the Lower Mainland, Vancouver Foundation, City of Vancouver, and the Surrey Homelessness and Housing Fund. The methods and implementation of the count are overseen by the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness and the Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee. OrgCode Consulting, Inc. was retained as the Research Consultant for the Count. -30- For more information or interviews contact Helesia Luke hluke@ethosstrategygroup.com  |  Office: 778.786.2838 | Cell: 778.858.0553 The 2011 Homeless Count Preliminary Report is now posted below 2011 Homeless Count Preliminary Report Printable Media Release Media Backgrounder Data and reports on previous counts can be found here. Read more about the Homeless Count in the media. Metro Vancouver homelessness count casts a wider net Jessica Linzey | Globe and Mail | March 17, 2011 Homeless numbers up, but more shelters mean fewer on streets Sam Cooper | The Province | March 17, 2011 Homeless Count Underway The Canadian Press | March 16, 2011 Metro Vancouver homeless count targets youths CBC News | March 16, 2011 Hundreds of volunteers help with homeless count in Metro Vancouver Yolande Cole | The Georgia Straight | March 16, 2011 Count on for Langley homeless Matthew Claxton | Langley Advance | March 16, 2011 Click here to read the 2011 Homeless Count media release and backgrounder. The 2008 Comparative Community Profiles. This report complements the 2008 Homeless Count by providing in-depth analysis of the count by community. Click here to download 2008 Comparative Community Profiles. About Us | Legal | Home | Campaign: 2006 / 2007 / 2008 / 2009 | © 2006-2010 Homelessness Action Week