The Nelson Cares Society has come out with their 10th Annual Report Card on Homelessness. Ann Harvey with the Nelson Committee on Homelessness says one of the big issues it highlights is youth homelessness.
Harvey says they surveyed over 700 people in April for Nelson’s Point in Time Homeless Count. 101 people said they were experiencing some type of homelessness. Roughly 57 per cent of those said they first experienced homelessness before the age of 19 and about 40 per cent said they had been in foster care.
Harvey says what also surprised her was how many people felt at risk of losing their housing.
She says the other reasons included conflict within the household or unsafe living conditions including mold and fire hazards.
Harvey says rental vacancy rates also continue to be an issue and are creating a ripple effect around the region.
All of the findings were published in the 10th Annual Report Card on Homelessness.