The number of people experiencing homelessness continues to go up in both Quesnel and Williams Lake.
The two communities were included a province wide count that involved 20 cities.
The total in Quesnel during a 24-hour period on April 2nd was 131, up from 127 in 2023 and 121 in 20-20.
These totals include unsheltered homeless and sheltered homeless.
Unsheltered homelessness includes those who stayed outside in alleys, doorways, parks and vehicles, or those who were staying temporarily at someone’s house. (couch surfing)
Sheltered homeless includes those who stayed overnight in homeless shelters, transition houses and youth safe houses.
The 24-hour snapshot in Williams Lake, also on April 2nd, showed an even bigger increase.
The total this year was 100, up from 77 in 2023 and 51 in 20-20.
The study found that in both communities indigenous people are consistently overrepresented in the population of people experiencing homelessness.
