This document presents the findings of the 2008 Metro Vancouver Homeless Count. It provides demographic information on a sample of the region’s homeless population on one day in March 2008, and a comparison of the 2008, 2005 and 2002 count results. The report primarily presents facts based on findings revealed through the interviews on count day.

Both the 2001 Regional Homelessness Plan for Greater Vancouver and the 2003 Three Ways to Home Update recommended that a regular homeless count be undertaken to obtain current information, identify changes and trends, and help monitor the implementation of the homelessness plan.

This count measured homelessness in the region at a point-in-time – one 24-hour period (from 12:01 am to 11:59 pm) on March 11th, 2008. A point-in-time count tells us how many homeless people were counted in the one 24-hour period. The figure produced in a 24-hour count is lower than the number of different people who experience homelessness over a period of time. Homelessness is often episodic. A point-in-time count does not capture the number of people that move in and out of homelessness throughout the course of a year.