Metro Vancouver Homeless Count 2025: Homelessness up 9 per cent from the
2023 count
On March 11, the 2025 Homeless Count was conducted across Vancouver over 24
hours. The count began in shelters during the evening and continued on the streets the
following day. Volunteers administered brief, anonymous surveys to individuals
experiencing homelessness.
The Homelessness Services Association of BC (HSABC) led the initiative on behalf of
Reaching Home’s Community Entity for Greater Vancouver, Lu’ma Native Housing
Society. The ACCS Homelessness Services team—part of the City of Vancouver’s
Community Services Grants Program, which funds non-profit organizations providing
social services—supported the implementation of the count.
While the Homeless Count does not capture the full scope of homelessness, it provides
essential data on the size and demographics of the homeless population and helps
track changes over time.
Key Findings:
Regional Increase: From 2023 to 2025, homelessness in Metro Vancouver rose by 9%,
with at least 5,232 individuals reporting homelessness.
City of Vancouver: The number of homeless individuals reached 2,715, marking a 12%
increase from 2024, up 141% since counts began in 2005.
Highest Percentage Increases:
– Delta: Up by 70%
– White Rock: Up by 53%
Age Demographics:
– Seniors (55+): Represent 22% of respondents
– Youth (under 25): Account for 6%
Indigenous Representation:
Although Indigenous people make up 2.4% of the region’s population (Statistics
Canada), they represent 34% of those counted as homeless in Metro Vancouver.
Click the 2025 Preliminary Data Report to view the complete findings.
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2023 Count
Every year since 2005 on March 7th and 8th the Greater Vancouver Homelessness count has taken place. Over those two days, made possible by hundreds of volunteers, a point in time survey of those experiencing homelessness and their circumstances is conducted.
Read the full report on the Homelessness Services Association of BC website.
2021 Homeless Count
Each year, with the help of volunteers, the City of Vancouver undertakes a homeless count to provide critical information on the number and circumstances of people experiencing homelessness. The count also provides information on how this population is changing over time.
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need to minimize any risk of transmission, the 2021 Homeless Count did not take place.
Staff at the City of Vancouver will be collecting alternative data to provide insight into the state of homelessness in Vancouver in 2021, and will be reporting on the results to City Counil in the fall of 2021.
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2020 Preliminary Data Report
In 2020, the Homeless Count in Metro Vancouver took place in shelters on March 3 and on the streets on March 4. The count found that in Vancouver:
- 2,095 residents identified as homeless
- 547 people were living on the streets
- 1,548 people with no fixed address were living in sheltered location, including emergency shelters, detox centres, safe houses, and hospitals.
Neighbourhood Ministry 