Counting the Homeless
BY JUDY GRAVES, PETER GREENWELL AND JONATHAN MARK Spatial Analysis Counting the Homeless H omelessness is a significant issue in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and details of the full extent of homelessness (sheltered and unsheltered) aren't undertaken by Statistics Canada through the Census nor by any pro-vincial government agency. As a result, many local communities have taken on this task. In March 2008, the third regionwide home-less count was conducted in Metro Vancouver. More than 800 people volunteered to assist with this com-munity effort led by the Greater Vancouver Regional Steering Committee on Homelessness (RSCH), which has worked to end homelessness in the Metro Vancouver region for 10 years. The RSCH has no bias to create a large number; the interest is in having an accurate demographic profile of those who are experiencing homelessness in Metro Vancouver. The group's membership represents the major homeless-serving organizations in the region and is the community partner to the federal govern-ment's Homelessness Partnering Strategy. Vancouver Uses GIS to Tackle a Serious Situation G E O W O R L D / S E P T E M B E R 2 O O 9 16