Cranbrook’s one-day point-in-time homelessness count is hoping to get a wide scope of information, and anyone who is living rough is invited to take part.
Homelessness Services Association of BC coordinator Jean Vecchi says the count will take place on Monday, April 14.
“There are different locations where folks can drop in and do a quick survey. It takes less than three minutes to complete and it is anonymous,” said Vecchi.
“Every two years, this count goes on and it’s just trying to gather a rough idea of the unhoused population in B.C.”
Cranbrook’s social development coordinator Marcel Germer says the numbers will likely be higher because the survey is aimed at a broader scope of people.
“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 whatnot,” said Germer.
“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.”
The information gathered will be used by the B.C. government to allocate resources to support unhoused people.
“Every single individual counts, we need to know if they’re having trouble finding housing or affording housing. Every single person who completes a survey will help,” said Vecchi.
“The government works with numbers, so we want the best, most accurate count we can get.”
Vecchi says people can drop in at Community Connections or Street Angels between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Monday, or you can call 236-363-2249.
You can also take the survey at Rotary Park where ANKORS will raise awareness for the ninth anniversary of the drug poisoning emergency from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We want to hear from anyone who is not paying rent, has nowhere to live, is couch surfing at a friend’s, has no fixed address or is living in a vehicle,” said Vecchi.
“It’s not necessarily just the people in encampments, there’s quite a range of unhoused people.”
Gift cards, pizza and refreshments will given to those who take the time to complete the survey.
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