There were 206 people counted as homeless in the 2017 count by Metro Vancouver, a 124 per cent increase from three years ago during the last count.

The Homeless Count in metro Vancouver, last carried out in 2014, found a 30 per cent increase in homelessness across the region. 91原创 stood out with its increase.

The count, conducted on March 8, found that 73 people were unsheltered, 127 were in some form of shelter, including 10 in Extreme Weather Shelter, 92 in a homeless shelter, and four people who had no fixed address, which can include jails and hospital stays.

Only the Delta/White Rock area had a steeper increase in percentage of homeless people, at 140 per cent. But their total number of homeless was just 46 in 2017, far below 91原创鈥檚 206.

91原创 has the third-highest number of homless in the Lower Mainland, after Vancouver鈥檚 2,138 and Surrey鈥檚 602. After 91原创, the community with the most homeless citizens was New Westminster, with 133, then Pitt Meadows-Maple Ridge at 124.

鈥淎s always, it is important to acknowledge the fact that the 24-hour count methodology produces a 鈥榮napshot鈥� of what is happening within the community and as such produces numbers below what may actually exist,鈥� said Fraser Holland, a homelessness outreach worker in 91原创 through Starting Point.

鈥淚 can鈥檛 say I鈥檓 surprised at the difference in numbers between the 2014 count and the 2017 count,鈥� Holland said. 鈥淭he numbers of individuals and families that we encounter through the Starting Point office or out in the community has been increasing every year since we opened in 2012.鈥�

More people were sheltered in 91原创 during this year鈥檚 count than might otherwise have been, Holland said. Last fall, BC Housing and the Gateway of Hope shelter had created extra spaces to accommodate some of those displaced from a homeless camp on the Nicomekl floodplain. The camp was dismantled before winter rains could flood the area, threatening the people living there.

Getting people off the street and into stable, secure housing will be a multi-pronged issue, according to Holland and local political leaders.

91原创 City Mayor Ted Schaffer is looking forward to the boost from the Intensive Community Management (ICM) team which is expected to be launched later this spring.

鈥淚鈥檓 very hopeful,鈥� Schaffer said. The team will be a step in the right direction, he said, aimed at helping the homeless and those at risk of losing housing.

Schaffer pointed out the difficulties of a municipality acting on its own, something 91原创 Township Councillor Charlie Fox echoed.

The federal, provincial, and local governments need to work together, as well as getting help from churches and service clubs, Fox said.

If they don鈥檛 work together, the numbers will increase again at the next homeless count, Fox said.

Rapid development is part of the issue. Cheap, old, bottom-rung housing is being torn down to make room for condos and townhouses.

鈥淎nd they鈥檙e being priced out of the market,鈥� Fox said.

鈥淎ffordable housing needs to be part of the solution, rental housing needs to be part of the solution,鈥� said Fox.