Vernon Matters file photo

By Liam Verster

Point-In-Time Homeless Count

Homelessness declining in Vernon: B.C. Housing Survey

Oct 2, 2025 | 3:05 PM

The number of homeless people in Vernon has gone down.

B.C. Housing’s point-in-time count in Vernon found that there were 199 people experiencing homelessness locally on April 10, 2025.

That was down from the last count in April of 2023, which found 279 unhoused people living Vernon.

As of the point-in-time count, 114 of the individuals in Vernon were “sheltered,” meaning they were able to stay overnight in a homeless shelter, transition house or safe youth house. The other 85 were unsheltered and living on the streets, in alleys, in parks, or in vehicles.

The homeless count report stated that 81 per cent of the people surveyed on April 10 had lived in Vernon for at least one year, and that 71 per cent of them had been homeless for at least a year. It also found that 32 per cent of the local homeless population were Indigenous, compared with seven per cent of the Census population. Roughly 62 per cent of the homeless people observed during the point-in-time count in Vernon were male.

Possible firearm involved

One person apprehended in connection with suspicious activity in Coldstream

17h ago

Fatal Collision, Highway Closed

One person dead in crash near Revelstoke

18h ago

Salaries

Vernon Council to discuss lesser pay increases

20h ago

The survey findings also showed that 67 per cent of the unhoused population had accessed emergency room services over the past year, 63 per cent had used food services, and 28 per cent of respondents access mental health services.

The report noted that low income was the major driver of local homelessness with 29 per cent of the respondents marking it as a key driver. That was followed by conflict with a spouse or partner (25 per cent), unfit or unsafe housing (21 per cent), and substance use issues (20 per cent).

The B.C. Housing report noted that the count is an estimated number of people experiencing homelessness, as it is based on one 24-hour survey.

This count where 199 homeless people were identified in Vernon was the third done by B.C. Housing. The previous ones were in 2023 which found 279 people experiencing homelessness, and in 2021 where 224 individuals were counted in the survey.