Facts Collection

Collection of facts and statistics related to homelessness.

There are more than 50,000 households on the waiting list for social housing; many families end up waiting up to 5 or even 10 years.

 

53% of the 904 homeless people surveyed by Dr. Stephen Hwang had a traumatic brain injury. 70% of those people had the injury before they became homeless.

 

Homeless people are 29 times as likely to have hepatitis C as the general population

 

1 in 3 homeless people has been physically assaulted in the past year

 

Homeless people are 20 times as likely to have epilespy as the general population

 

It cost the BC government 33% more to provide health care, criminal justice and social services to a homeless person than to a socially housed unemployed individual.

 

The 2006 Street Needs Assessment found that respondents over 65 had spent an average of 12 years living on the street.

 

Homeless people are 5 times as likely to have heart disease as the general population

 

Homeless people are 4 times as likely to have cancer as the general population

 

Homeless people are twice as likely to have diabetes as the general population

 

10% of the homeless people surveyed by Street Health had attempted suicide in the past year. 25% had attempted suicide in their lifetime.