In 2001, BC had the largest proportion of working poor of any province in Canada – nearly twice the national rate.

The Cariboo-Chilcotin Region experienced an 8% increase in the number of renters in housing need between 1996 and 2001.

When a comparison is made between renters and owners in the Fraser Basin, it is evident that renters (31.4%) are far more likely to be in housing need than owners (8.6%).

RBC's Housing Affordability bulletin shows that BC had the highest (worst) Affordability Index (63.7% for a standard two-storey house) in Canada in the first quarter of 2006, which means that an average BC household will pay 63.7% of its pre-tax income to cover mortgage payments, property taxes and utilities.

BC has the highest proportion of people living below the LICO (poverty line) of any Canadian province. In 2004, 18% of families and unattached individuals were below the after tax LICO, compared to the Canadian average of 15.2%.

In BC, low income rates have decreased by only 1.6% over a 10-year period, compared to a decrease of 18.3% for Canada as a whole.

The index of Economic Hardship (2005), produced by BC Statistics, considers a number of indicators, including the percentage of the population on income assistance, average household income and income inequality. The Cariboo Regional District experienced high rates of economic hardship.

In September, 2006 the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre Society in 100 Mile House received a grant from the National Homelessness Initiative for the purposes of conducting a research project on Homelessness.

This project was the result of collaborative discussions among members of the local Community Planning Council who identified a need to develop a community strategy to deal with homelessness issues. The committee wanted to assess the extent of the homelessness issue in 100 Mile House and area, evaluate existing resources and their effectiveness, and identify gaps and ways to address them. Priorities were also identified to educate and increase awareness of homelessness issues among the general public, and to establish a communication and reference network to ensure that the community was working together to support the homeless and those at risk.

Definitions

For the purposes of this research, the broader definition of homelessness was used to identify those who are absolutely homeless (without physical shelter) and those that are relatively homeless (those who live in spaces that are inadequate because they are temporary, not affordable, don't meet basic health and safety standards, are overcrowded or otherwise undesirable).

A household is in core housing need if its housing falls below at least one of the standards for adequacy, suitability or affordability, and it spends 30% or more of its pre-tax income to pay the median rent of local housing.

Affordable housing is defined by Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation as shelter, including utilities, for which a person pays not more than one third of their income.

Those at risk for homelessness are generally defined as those who live in inadequate, unaffordable housing and are paying 50% or more of their income for shelter.

The project also attempted to identify the number of community members with risk factors that could lead to homelessness, such as inadequate income, economic hardship, chronic mental or physical health problems, substance abuse issues, lack of life skills or inadequate social supports.

Methodology

The Project Coordinator developed two surveys, one for service providers and one for community members with housing issues. The community surveys were distributed through local agency and government offices, churches, the library, a local food bank and a Laundromat. Donations enabled us to offer a $10 gift certificate to those who completed and returned them. The Project Coordinator visited most of the local agencies and the Community Planning Council to distribute the service provider surveys. A total 115 community surveys and 34 service provider surveys were considered for this report.

The Project Coordinator also did a number of group presentations on homelessness and the results of the surveys, including the Mayor and Council, service clubs, special interest groups and youth gatherings. Two focus groups and a community forum were held to give the general public an opportunity for input.

Service Provider Perspectives

Service providers reported that homelessness is definitely an issue in 100 Mile House and area. At the moment there is a critical shortage of rental properties within 100 Mile itself, due to a real estate boom in 2006 when many rental properties were sold. Service providers reported having clients who searched for several months to find accommodation. People have had to move to outlying areas and in some cases into substandard housing designed for recreational use, without basic amenities, poorly constructed or not properly insulated. Some are living in shelter not meant for human habitation, such as buses, horse trailers or garden sheds. Living outside 100 Mile creates transportation issues for those with no vehicle or lack of funds to make trips to town for work, health care, shopping or social supports.

Service Providers agreed that all populations of homeless exist in 100 Mile: single adults, families with children, abused women, youth, aboriginal people and seniors. When asked which categories should be the highest priority to target, the answers tended to reflect the population groups the service providers worked with. Some said it was a hard question because everyone deserves a home but some groups such as children and elders are more vulnerable and homelessness in childhood often leads to social problems later in life. However, the point was also made that there are a lot of social supports for families, but very little for single adults.

Service providers were asked the question, "If money were no object, what services could or should be provided to help address the issues of the homeless or those at risk of homelessness in this community?" The number one answer was more low income/subsidized housing. Other priorities included an emergency shelter/hostel, supportive or transitional housing, and a regular soup kitchen or meal program.

Community Perspectives

Community Survey respondents identified a lack of good quality, affordable housing in 100 Mile area. Over half the respondents said they were not living in permanent housing but were doubled up with friends, relatives, boyfriends or girlfriends. About a third of respondents said they left their last permanent residence because they couldn't afford the rent. Another third cited poor quality housing or unhealthy living conditions.

Food security was an issue as well; over half of respondents said they regularly use the local food banks, and that they go hungry sometimes because there is no money for food. Over half the respondents said they needed counselling, especially in the areas of mental health, addictions and employment. When asked what other community services, programs or facilities should be in 100 Mile House to help reduce homelessness or risk of homelessness, those most mentioned were an Emergency Shelter/Hostel, a Drop-In Centre/Soup Kitchen, more affordable housing, transportation to and from rural areas, and an Addiction Treatment Program or Recovery House.

Participants at the focus groups and community forum identified the need for a community planner to coordinate homelessness initiatives, increased public awareness of homelessness issues and what resources are available, and an advocate to support low income individuals to access services. Other needs mentioned were an outreach centre, more free clothing and household goods distribution, back to work programs, and transportation solutions. A number of improvements around food security were suggested, including increased hours at food banks, food recovery programs, and increased support for community gardens/kitchens.

Some participants were emphatic about the need to move from just talking about the issues to actually doing something about them. There appears to be a good cross-section of community members willing to work together to find solutions and work in practical ways on an action plan.

Summary

Much discussion has taken place with service providers and individual community members on what the homelessness issues are in 100 Mile House. The Coordinator was often asked with a certain amount of skepticism, "Do we even have any homeless in 100 Mile?" The answer to that question is a resounding "Yes!" We do have a homelessness problem, less obvious than in larger urban centres, but still it exists.

It has been said that there are three things that contribute to homelessness: lack of income, lack of social supports and lack of affordable housing. In 100 Mile House, the most critical need is for housing – available and affordable – and several types of housing are needed:

• low cost, affordable housing for individuals and families, and
  
• emergency, transitional and supportive housing, particularly for adults, battered women, youth leaving foster care, the mentally ill and those with substance abuse issues.
  

These needs cannot be addressed overnight. There are agencies working now on low-income housing projects for the area that may help to alleviate the situation over the next few years. This is an issue that needs to be kept to the forefront as new money becomes available from federal and provincial sources. In the interim, creative ways need to be explored to find or develop new housing options.

There are other physical needs that have come out of this survey that we may be able to address in the immediate future. The surveys have shown that there is a need for a regular daily hot meal for those who need it, increased access to food bank services, more free clothing for our harsh winter weather and some type of outreach or drop-in centre where individuals and families can access supports and obtain help navigating the system.

There are many community members who have the motivation, resources and capabilities to assist in practical ways. This could mean donating money, food, in-kind resources or volunteer hours. This Project has had some success in increasing awareness of homelessness issues but there is still work to be done to fully engage the communities in the Region, and make a real difference in our community in the months and years ahead.

We would like to gratefully acknowledge all who provided funding, in-kind contributions, gift certificates or cash donations to assist with the Homelessness Project: