VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) -The initial findings of this year's homeless count in Vancouver show there aren't as many people sleeping outside, but emergency shelters are beyond capacity.
The last homeless count--done in 2008--found 1,600 people in Vancouver without a place to live. While no official numbers have been released from this year's count, approximately 600 people were able to land a spot at an emergency shelter last night, but more than a dozen were turned away.
Most of those shelters are slated to close next month, and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is now pleading for help from the province and the federal government. Robertson was among the volunteers checking shelters, safe
houses and transition centres last night. Robertson hopes funding will be kicked in before April 30th. "Because it's absolutely unfair to be putting people back on the street when they're starting to recover. Many people eating, sleeping properly, and getting connected to health and housing services."
Robertson says some progress has been made in building new housing units, but it's not moving fast. "We have made some progress in interim housing and the province is opening some housing units. We're doing as much as we can locally, and we really need more support from the province and Feds."
Volunteers will be out again tonight searching outdoor locations like Stanley Park, and other areas missed in Monday night's count. The City will use the figures to update its Homeless Action Plan.