Homelessness numbers in Nanaimo tripled since 2016

Thornton says upwards of one-third of those experiencing homelessness are Indigenous. / Photo: Canadian Mental Health Association

The number of people experiencing homelessness in Nanaimo has tripled since 2016 according to the recently published 2023 Nanaimo Point-in-Time Count report.

At a council meeting last night, Andrew Thornton with the Canadian Mental Health Association, along with Vicky Trill and Julie Rushton of United Way BC presented their findings from the report to the council.

Thornton said the count occurs every two years in Nanaimo and although there is rigorous work put into the count there are still limitations to counting every single person.

“Somebody even asked me the other day, ‘Well, Andrew, how much of an undercount isn't?’ And I always say I've actually done estimates–estimates of estimates, basically–and it turns out, but the actual number that we get about 60 per cent of what other estimates [say],” Thornton said.

515 people were accounted for, an 18.9 per cent increase from 2020. Thornton said this number and the estimated missing 60 per cent match up with the estimated 800 to 1,000 people living in homelessness in Nanaimo. 

The people counted were surveyed on various questions regarding their situation. 

Thornton said according to the data, Nanaimo has far more people living in homelessness for its size compared to other communities.

“Victoria is four times the size of Nanaimo, yet it has about half the number of people sleeping rough,” Thornton said. “Although the actual total number of homeless in Victoria is much higher, on a per capita basis, it's still very high in Nanaimo.”

According to the count, almost 80 per cent of those counted, live in what is labeled as unfit for human habitation. This could be in cars, outside in tents or makeshift shelters, or in encampments. Comparatively, Victoria only accounts for 14.5 per cent of those that live in unfit for human habitation areas.

81 per cent of those counted were homeless for more than six of the last 12 months, a rise from 77 per cent in 2020.

Thornton said over 159 people had their most recent housing lost due to eviction. 

“Now people are evicted for all kinds of reasons that's understood. But eviction is actually something we can do something about, we can have preventative measures in a number of different ways, supporting people, money, more things like rent bank,” he said “And that we need to pay attention to because one of the best things to lower homelessness is to prevent homelessness.”

He said the top five challenges or problems reported by those surveyed when trying to find housing were low income, addiction or substance use, family breakdown, discrimination, and the high cost of rent.

“The discrimination, there was both racism against in particular indigenous individuals, but discrimination of homeless individuals when they present to attempt to rent,” Thornton said “And they report there's a lot of discrimination against them.”

Thornton said upwards of one-third of those experiencing homelessness are Indigenous.

After the presentation, Councillor Sheryl Armstrong asked if a lot of the homeless population in Nanaimo is not seen by a lot of people.

“We often hear about, you know, how the homeless are causing issues, whatever,” Armstrong said. “Would you say that a lot of the homelessness in our city are not well seen by a lot of people, because they're well hidden in different parts of the city, people have a tendency to focus on the ones downtown or at the malls.”

Thornton said most people are very subtle, but some can be more obvious to those around them.

“Only the most visible parts of the worst, people who are in the most, you know, most crisis and need the most support are the most visible,” Thornton said. “And that is not all of homelessness.”

Councillor Erin Hemmens asked Thornton if he knew what the population of those who were uncounted for in the count looked like and who they were not capturing.

Thornton said Indigenous numbers are undercounted for, as he said, in a general understanding Indigenous communities do not historically have a great relationship with the Canadian government so asking an Indigenous person to participate in a survey sponsored by the Canadian government is not necessarily going to get support.

Trill added that to help better the Indigenous count they will be partnering with the Snuneymuxw First Nations to make sure they capture those uncounted for.

Thornton said that those who stay in vehicles, youth and women are also undercounted. 

Mayor Leonard Krog asked if there was a way to do the count digitally instead of the paper way they currently do it. 

Thornton said there is a website that can be used for the count but requires data for the surveyor to access the site while doing the count. 

Funding Note: This story was produced with funding support from the Local Journalism Initiative, administered by the Community Radio Fund of Canada.