Homeless in Vancouver and Suburban area's

Poll: Vancouverites say homelessness top issue

A new poll suggests homelessness is the biggest issue facing the Vancouver and its suburbs, far surpassing even crime and health care.
"I don't like it. I don't think anyone likes it," said Mike, 44, who lives in the bush of Maple Ridge.

The poll was conducted by the Strategic Counsel for CTV, the Globe and Mail and CKNW Radio. When asked what is the most important issue facing the Vancouver area, 24 per cent said homelessness.
Here are the complete results:
Homelessness: 24 per cent
Traffic and transit: 22 per cent
Health care: 14 per cent
Crime: 12 per cent
House prices: 10 per cent
Poverty: 7 per cent
Environment: 2 per cent

Vancouver homeless population may triple by 2010

Vancouver's homeless population is growing at such a fearsome rate that it could triple to 3,000 people by the time visitors arrive for the 2010 Olympic Games, says a report released by an advocacy group Thursday.
"Without immediate action, the estimated 2.3 million visitors who come to our city to see the Olympics will find a Vancouver in the midst of an urban epidemic of poverty," said Pivot Legal Society spokesman David Eby as he released the report.

It would be "clear evidence of a broken commitment to address the impact of the 2010 Olympics," Eby said.
When Vancouver bid for the 2010 games, federal, provincial and municipal governments pledged to protect the city's rental housing and ensure no one would be left homeless because of the Games

A Promise From Sammy.

Pivot, a non-profit group that develops advocacy campaigns for marginalized people, said the crisis can be averted if existing low-income housing is preserved or replaced. Between June of 2005 and June this year, the city lost more than 400 low-income rooms due to closings of hotels, conversions or rent increases.
Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan didn't argue with the advocacy group's findings.
"It's a civic, and provincial and national shame,"

Sullivan told CTV News. "We need to do better and I am working on some initiatives to work with the federal and provincial governments and even to bring in private sector funding.

Pivot says the city needs 800 new units every year to keep up with the demand, and is calling on the province and city to provide a three-part solution:
1. provide money for more low-cost housing
2. raise welfare rates and
3. force building owners to repair and improve their low-income units by enforcing existing city bylaws