BC Housing is set to do a point-in-time homelessness count in Cranbrook next month.
An updated count will help local support groups have a better understanding of the level of homelessness in Cranbrook.
Cranbrook’s social development coordinator Marcel Germer says BC Housing has changed how they are doing the count.
“They are really finessing the process of the count. They are trying to capture the youth homelessness that is not as visible in Cranbrook but it is here, couch surfing and jumping homes and what not,” she said.
“They are also looking at seniors homelessness which again is not as visible, but we know they are living in trailers and inappropriate or insufficient housing.”
Germer is anticipating the number of homeless people in Cranbrook to increase, but because of the changes to the count it doesn’t mean there are actually more than before.
“We may see a jump in our numbers in Cranbrook in the homelessness population, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect more bodies living in tents,” she added.
“It may just mean they’ve done a better job of our count.”
The BC Housing count is scheduled for April 14 and will be done through the Community Connections Society.
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