Report On Homelessness – Nelson Cares Society

15th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:42:14 +0000

The 15th Annual Report Card on Homelessness highlights the current state of homelessness in Nelson, and how we can work together to address it. Numbers tell a story that cannot be ignored. Importantly, it raises the voices of community members experiencing homelessness and service providers who need to be heard in the development of meaningful solutions.

For a PDF copy of this report, click here.

14th Annual Report on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Tue, 11 Oct 2022 22:02:30 +0000

Nelson continues to have high numbers of people experiencing homelessness and poverty. The 14^th Annual Report Card on Homelessness for Nelson provides data illustrating the issues and proposes solutions. The results from the 2022 Point-in-Time (PiT) Service Enumeration and PiT Surveys are included, with data from Nelson’s new Coordinated Access/By-Name List service. You can download the report here for printing as legal-size booklet, or here in a single page letter-size format.

13th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 16:50:44 +0000

This year, we’re trying something new – an interactive infographic format of the report!

Check out the online interactive Report Card HERE

If you or your organization would like some print copies, please email ncoh@nelsoncares.ca or call 250-352-6011 ext. 5266

Want to learn more about the community indicators, barriers to securing housing, and the local COVID-19 response for people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness? Check out this video presentation of the 13^th Report Card HERE.

A big THANK YOU to the Report Card Committee and NCOH Advisory Committee members; service provides and people with lived experience of homelessness/housing challenges who shared quotes, all the presenters/panelists at the press release, and to everyone who provided data, feedback, and support for this year’s Report Card. The Report Card is always a big team effort and would not have been possible without your wonderful help!

What is the Nelson Committee On Homelessness (NCOH)?

Nelson Committee on Homelessness is a volunteer committee of service agencies,
government representation, and concerned citizens dedicated to leading a
collaborative and coordinated response to homelessness. Founded in 2001, we work with members of the community, businesses, governments, and other stakeholders to identify and implement evidenced-based solutions to homelessness and poverty & support entitlement to safe, affordable, and sustainable housing as a human right. Acting as Nelson’s Community Advisory Board for Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, we make recommendations to our Community Entity (Nelson CARES Society) on the distribution of federal funding aimed at achieving the goals of Reaching Home. We encourage collaboration, new initiatives, research, information-sharing, knowledge building, community partnerships, and engaging the voice of people with lived experiences of homelessness in all decision-making.

NCOH acknowledges our respect for, and deep gratitude to, all the ancestors and keepers of the land on whose traditional territories we are honoured to live and work.

12th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 00:41:09 +0000

Overview of Nelson Committee On Homelessness (NCOH)

Nelson Committee on Homelessness is a volunteer committee of service agencies,
government representation, and concerned citizens dedicated to leading a
collaborative and coordinated response to homelessness.
Founded in 2001, we work with members of the community, businesses, governments,
and other stakeholders to identify and implement evidenced-based solutions to
homelessness and poverty & support entitlement to safe, affordable, and sustainable
housing as a human right. Acting as Nelson’s Community Advisory Board for Reaching
Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy, we make recommendations to our Community
Entity (Nelson CARES Society) on the distribution of federal funding aimed at achieving
the goals of Reaching Home.
We encourage collaboration, new initiatives, research, information-sharing, knowledge building,
community partnerships, and engaging the voice of people with lived
experiences of homelessness in all decision-making.
NCOH acknowledges our respect for, and deep gratitude to, all the ancestors and
keepers of the land on whose traditional territories we are honoured to live and work.

Homelessness in Nelson

Homelessness is happening right here, right now in Nelson. People living without
shelter may be more visible in our community, yet this is only the tip of the iceberg.
There are also many people living in temporary, precarious, substandard, or dangerous
housing situations – children through to seniors – hidden from sight or at-risk of
homelessness. Many young girls and single moms end up living with predators. While
some groups are more likely to experience homelessness due to systemic barriers &
inequities, such as racism and discrimination (for example, Indigenous peoples, people
with disabilities or mental health issues, and people fleeing violence), homelessness
affects people from all walks of life.
No one is immune to becoming homeless; it can happen to anyone.

To view the Report Card press release presentation, click here.

For a copy of the full report, click here

A big THANK YOU to the Report Card Committee and NCOH Advisory Committee members; to all the presenters at the press release; and to everyone who provided data, information, and support for this year’s Report Card. The Report Card would not have been possible without your thoughtful feedback, support, and enthusiasm for working collaboratively.

11th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 22:16:31 +0000

COMMITTEE CALLS FOR MORE AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING IN NELSON:
A RANGE OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING OPTIONS ALSO CALLED FOR AS A MISSING LINK
TO HELP PREVENT HOMELESSNESS

Continuing 0% vacancy rates for a fifth year in a row in Nelson and high rental rates compared to per capita incomes of renters PLUS a lack of and decrease in purpose-built rental housing stock in Nelson have the Nelson Committee on Homelessness (NCOH) calling for more affordable rental housing in Nelson.

NCOH released it’s 11^th Annual Report Card on Homelessness today. Every year it tracks community indicators that have an impact on homelessness and poverty in Nelson.

“Even with the new housing projects coming on stream, it doesn’t keep up with the affordable units that have been lost in Nelson over the past number of years,” said Ann Harvey, Community Coordinator for NCOH. The affordable housing crisis in BC has hit many households hard, but those on fixed incomes and very low incomes are hit the hardest.

Coupled with these hard facts is the growing complexity of issues being faced by many of those experiencing homelessness.

Agencies serving youth populations are seeing youth showing up exhibiting more complex needs. NCOH’s survey of people of all ages without housing last year showed that 56% of them had first experienced homelessness before they were the age of 19. LGBTQ2S+, transgender and Indigenous youth are over-represented among Nelson’s homeless population. Many leave home when individual and family problems become overwhelming. Some flee trauma, abuse and discrimination. Services are now reporting the use of crystal meth at younger ages – which contributes to increased mental health issues, addictions, victimization and exploitation of youth.

All ages and household make-ups are feeling the housing crunch and the pressure that higher costs put on families and individuals. Services report seeing more seniors at risk and homeless in the community. When leases end, or traditional rental buildings change hands or are renovated, long-time senior renters find themselves hard-pressed to find rental housing at a price they were paying in established rent-controlled units.

Affordable housing is defined by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation as affording rent and utilities at 30% of gross household income.

“There are the rent-controlled purpose-built rental buildings which are wonderful,” says Harvey. “But if someone needs to find an advertised rental unit, they will be shocked to see average advertised rental rates 39% to 55% higher than their established long-term rentals, depending on the unit size.” NCOH surveyed 174 rental ads in April and May for Nelson. “You either need to know someone who knows someone, or you are looking elsewhere for housing,” said Harvey.

The other growing option is to share housing. This can lead to precarious housing situations and reduced security of tenure. As well, 30% of the 360 people who WERE housed surveyed in the homeless count last year indicated they were at imminent risk of losing their housing, primarily for financial reasons or leases ending. Shared living was by far the most advertised in this year’s advertised rentals survey by NCOH.

Women and children fleeing violence, often with no or few resources accessible to them upon leaving, are also finding it difficult. The Aimee Beaulieu Transition House had great difficulty finding the housing supports their clients needed after their 30 day stay this past year, with some needing to stay much longer as options were searched for.

The opioid crisis has hit all of BC and Nelson is no exception. Nelson’s Fentanyl Task Force, ANKORS, Mental Health and Substance Use services of Interior Health, Street Outreach and other community services are all working hard to keep people safe and offer information, treatment and other harm reduction options. It adds to the complexities of people’s health needs and mental health, when they are homeless.

Nelson identified 20 people last year living without any housing or shelter in it’s Point in Time Count. Another will be conducted in April 2020. Of the 101 people without safe, permanent housing surveyed last year, 39% who were experiencing some type of homelessness had been without stable, safe, permanent housing for over 6 months that year – whether “roughing it”, among the hidden homeless who were couch surfing, staying at the shelter or in transitional or institutional housing with no home to return to.

REACHING HOME:

NCOH is just starting into five years of a new 10-year federal program – Reaching Home – that hopes to make a change in the lives of the most chronic and vulnerable homeless and at risk populations, and to the life of our community.

Beginning with a community planning process to pull in all stakeholders and set goals, NCOH is hoping to work towards a more coordinated “systems” approach among service providers in the community and in government. Over three years the goal is to utilize resources more efficiently through increased coordination using such things as common vulnerable assessment tools, coordinating access to services, and through sharing data and a more coordinated case management approach.

This is all to streamline the process for people experiencing homelessness to access the type of housing and support services they need to permanently end their homelessness.

Key to the success of Reaching Home will be the provision of supportive housing, offer 24/7 staffing, a meal program, supports to help people maintain their residency, improve their health and learn/re-learn life skills to help in community re-inclusion. Connecting residents to community services and supports, case planning and help to access income, ID, establish a bank account etc. is also be offered, and on-site medical supports is also an option.

“This is really the missing link for Nelson right now,” said Harvey. It’s hard to prevent homelessness and move people out of homelessness when the necessary supports aren’t there. This type of housing has a proven track-record in many communities across Canada and the globe. It really does help improve individuals’ health and lives… and the health and life of the community.”

NCOH participants are also working on a range of housing options for youth – from a growing need expressed for emergency housing for youth of our community and more supported housing options for them – to second stage housing for women and children fleeing violence – and more affordable housing and supported housing for seniors.

Some of the community rental housing need and some affordable housing need will be met with the three new rental housing projects under development – Nelson CARES Hall Street project (43 units), Lakeside Place project (47 units) and SHARE Nelson’s project (39 units).

For a copy of the full report, click here.

-30-

For more information and contacts for NCOH Chairs and service agencies, please contact:

Ann Harvey, Community Coordinator
250-352-6011 x5
ncoh@nelsoncares.ca

[1] Affordable housing is defined by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation as affording rent and utilities at 30% of gross household income.

10th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 16:37:32 +0000

The Nelson Committee on Homelessness is pleased to release its 10th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson.

This year’s report highlights findings from Nelson’s second Point-in-Time (PiT) Homeless Count and survey conducted over a 24 hour period on April 10/11, 2018. Sixty-five volunteers hit the streets, shelters and service locations around Nelson to gather information about the extent and nature of homelessness in Nelson, hear about people’s situations, discover what barriers they faced in securing safe, permanent housing and record what they thought could best help them. The Count was part of a coordinated effort by communities across Canada from January to April of 2018 to measure homelessness in their communities, as part of the federal government’s Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS). An emphasis this PiT Count was to identifying youth who were homeless and at-risk, including those experiencing hidden homelessness. This took place over a longer period of time in cooperation with Nelson Community Youth Services, the Youth Centre and the Selkirk Students’ Union.

The Report Card also provides updated information on community indicators and trends effecting homeless people and those living in poverty in Nelson. The successes and achievements of NCOH members and community partners over the last year to address homelessness and poverty in our community are also featured.

For a printable copy of this report, click here.

The Co-Chairs of NCOH, Phyllis Nash and Cheryl Dowden, wrote a Letter to the Citizens of Nelson to accompany this 10^th Annual Report Card.

It is an invitation, a suggestion and even a challenge. We hope you take the time to read it. Thank you!

NCOH Co-Chairs LTR re 10th Annual Report Card on Homelessness

9th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 20:41:54 +0000

The Nelson Committee On Homelessness is pleased to release its 9th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson.

This Report Card focuses on mental health and substance use issues: who is effected, causes, the connections between mental health problems and substance use and their relationship to homelessness, and how the community is working to address these issues and the rising opioid crisis.

It explores the lives of people in our community living with these issues and the stigma they feel and the barriers they face – in their daily lives, when trying to get the help they need from the medical profession or when trying to find work. It encourages people to move beyond perceptions and to talk with people, rather than about them.

The Report Card also focuses on the affordable rental housing crisis in Nelson… and in Canada, with reports on NCOH’s Advertised Rental Survey, and for the first time, a regional rental survey of advertised rates of rent.

And as in every Annual Report Card community indicators related to poverty, income and housing are tracked to report emerging trends.

For more information: ncoh@nelsoncares.ca or 250-352-6011 x19.

For a printable copy of this report, click here.

To Print follow these instructions: legal, landscape, 2-sided – flipped on short side, folded & stapled in centre.

Please email ncoh@nelsoncares.ca if you would like to receive a higher resolution pdf to READ (16.7 Megabytes).

For an online readable copy of this report, click here.

For the media release, click here.

8th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 02:57:14 +0000

The Nelson Committee On Homelessness is pleased to release its 8^th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson and results from Nelson’s first homeless Point-in-Time (PIT) Count and Survey conducted in April of 2016.

This Report Card will bring the reader a better understanding of those who are homeless and at risk of homelessness in our community, what contributes to homelessness and what we can do about it.

This year’s Report Card also features voices and stories of people who are homeless or at-risk and shares information on on the incredible work being done and community partnerships that exist to address poverty and homelessness in Nelson.

For more information: ncoh@nelsoncares.ca or 250-352-6011 x19.

For a copy of this report, click here.

7th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 18:35:57 +0000

7th Annual Report Card on Homelessness

6th Annual Report Card on Homelessness in Nelson

Author — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 18:36:40 +0000

6th Annual Report Card on Homelessness