Burnaby Task Force On Homelessness
Working Together to END Homelessness in Burnaby
www.burnabyhomeless.org
Homeless Situation in Burnaby
August 2018
Burnaby is BC’s 3rd largest city yet has no shelter, no transitional housing, (finally a 54 bed facility is expected to be built in the next year) but there are few permanent homes and minimal services for people who are homeless. There is an extreme weather overnight shelter operated by Lookout Housing and Health Society which provides sheltering spaces when cold weather poses a high risk to homeless people. It is overnight only, and there are no warming places in Burnaby where the homeless can go during daytime hours.
Every three years, Point-in-Time (PiT) homeless counts are undertaken across Metro Vancouver. Based on the PiT, Burnaby has seen a 64% increase in homelessness since 2005, including a 19% increase since 2014. By comparison, between 2011 and 2016 Burnaby’s population increased by 10.1%. This shows that our homeless population is increasing at a rate twice as much as the increase in the general population. The 2017 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count identified 69 individuals being homeless, including 49 unsheltered: staying on the streets, in vehicles or couch surfing. 20 people stayed at Lookout’s Extreme Weather shelter. Burnaby has the 4th highest number of unsheltered homeless persons in Metro Vancouver (2017 Metro Vanc Homeless Count).
Disturbingly, the increase in homelessness is primarily within populations most at risk: 28% of Burnaby's homeless are women, the highest rate for all Metro Vancouver respondents. 27% are homeless youth under 25, which is the 5th largest homeless youth population in Metro Vancouver. 32% are seniors over the age of 55. (2017 Metro Vanc Homeless Count). PiT counts are notorious under-counts as they are one 24-hour enumeration only. Based on data from members such as Progressive Housing, the Task Force believes there is 250 – 350 homeless people living in Burnaby.
Homelessness is life-threatening. We have documented 49 individuals from Burnaby who have died as a result of the long-term effects of homelessness and extreme poverty. 15 deaths occurred in 2017. Homeless people die early, between the ages of 40 and 49. The average age of death of a homeless person in Burnaby is 42.
The Burnaby Task Force is interested in creating solutions for people who are currently homeless and also preventing others from becoming homeless. In 2011, 46% of Burnaby’s tenants spent greater than 30% of their income on housing continuing a steady trend from 2001. Not just tenants are at risk: 29% of Burnaby’s home owners also pay greater than 30% of their income on housing. (Stats Can 2016)
The housing crisis in Burnaby is exacerbated by the demolition of low-cost rental housing for redevelopment into condos which reduces the number of affordable housing stock and creates barriers to housing for people living on low-fixed incomes such as seniors, disabled, single parent families, youths and students. As an example, on Sussex Street rezoning resulted in the loss of 64 affordable units. The redevelopment includes 125 units of non-market housing however it is extremely likely the rents for the new units will be at a higher rate than the previous rental rates. It is estimated that the rent for a 1-bedroom apartment will be around $1,400 per month and the subsidized rent rate will be around $900, which, because the building will operate under BC Housing rules, means residents will have to have incomes of $2,700 per month to qualify for the subsided units. People on low-fixed incomes do not have incomes anywhere close to that which puts them at risk of homelessness.
Who are Burnaby’s homeless?
Across Canada, 35,000 people experience homelessness on any given night; they live in every community, urban and rural – and as you all know, they also live in Burnaby. The visible homeless are only 20% of the total homeless population and are as diverse as the rest of us. They are men (70%) & women (28%), seniors, youth aging out of care, disabled, veterans – some are the working poor. They are also someone’s sister, brother, mom, son, grandfather. Most (57%) have lived in Burnaby their entire lives or for more than 10 years and consider Burnaby their home. They do not want to leave the area where they have support and connections. 55% have two or more health conditions including additions, medical conditions, disabilities and mental illness. 42% reported they had been homeless in Burnaby for more than one year.
Causes of homelessness
The causes are as diverse as the people who experience homelessness: violence or abuse in the home, lack of employment or income, shortage of affordable housing and although addiction and mental health are significant challenges for many of the homeless, this remains a significant factor within the housed population as well. Homelessness leads to many mental health issues – without sleep, without proper nutrition, and the stigma people face - it is a cause of mental breakdown. The commonality of the homeless is poverty – can be because of circumstances or because of generational situations What are the solutions? The solution is housing that is affordable to people living in poverty. Also housing that provides supports where needed to help people maintain and thrive in their housing. Such supports can be on-site staffing or can be provided by community services on an outreach basis. Research demonstrates that people who are homeless and suffer concurrent health disorders who receive housing and appropriate supports transition to stable housing and have a significantly more positive perceptions of their safety and living situations and increased community functioning including daily living activities and their mental and physical health (At Home/Chez Soi Project 2014).
Burnaby requires up to 350 units of affordable rental housing to be built specifically for and dedicated to house Burnaby’s homeless. This is doable. Currently there is a proposal to build 52 units of housing on Norland Street. It will go to public hearing as a next step; probably in August or September. This housing could be available by the spring of 2019 if the City approves. Some people believe that supportive housing will bring down property values. Others believe there will be an increase in crime. Both of these beliefs have been repeatedly rebutted by research. They become part of the local community in which they are located and future neighbours don’t know that it is supportive housing. https://vancouver.ca/people-programs/supportive-housing-in-your-neighbourhood.aspx
It is important for residents to support such a development to meet the needs of the most vulnerable who live among us.