A new Point in Time count for Salt Spring Island shows 137 people identified as homeless, which was down from two years ago.
The report was conducted on Mar. 20 and indicates 56 per cent of people surveyed were unhoused, and 34 per cent were sheltered.
According to the report, of the people listed as unsheltered 69 per cent were living in a vehicle or car, 20 per cent are living in a tent or on the street, six per cent are couch surfing and five per cent are living in either a shed or shack.
Most of the unhoused population on Salt Spring was shown to be men (63 per cent), while 23 per cent of those surveyed were women who indicated they were homeless, and 14 per cent surveyed as unknown.
The highest age group experiencing some type of homelessness was 25- to 54-year-olds (84 per cent), while demographics over 55 made up 4 per cent of the results.
The report, conducted by Island Community Services, says many of the island’s unhoused population have lived on derelict boats.
It says utilizing that form of shelter is very dangerous.
“This manner of shelter is extremely high-risk and is of great concern to service providers and first responders,” the report says. “Health and safety risks have occurred including; unsanitary living, fire, weather exposure, complicated access for police and first responders as well as stress.”
Over 40 per cent of the people experiencing homelessness on Salt Spring have lived in the community for more than 10 years.
