New statistics from the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association show clear reductions in cases of open drug use, panhandling, trespassing, and street homelessness in the downtown neighbourhoods surrounding two Emergency Winter Response homeless shelters that opened in early December.

Data collected by the DVBIA’s Downtown Ambassadors program shows that in December 2012, compared to November 2012, downtown-area open drug use dropped by 88% (from 33 to 4 recorded incidents); panhandling was reduced by 34% (from 467 to 309); trespassing cases dropped by 21% (207 to 163); and there were 49% fewer people observed sleeping on the street in the downtown core (276 to 163).

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Vancouver’s four emergency winter shelters remain at full capacity, and have had to consistently turn people away due to lack of available space – a reminder of the urgent need for more investment in affordable housing, says Mayor Gregor Robertson.

New numbers from the Extreme Weather Response Program show that since the Province and City of Vancouver opened four temporary winter shelters at the beginning of December, an average of 24 homeless individuals each night have been turned away from these facilities due to a lack of available space.  Each shelter provides space for 40 people, for a total of 160 shelter beds.

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The City’s emergency homeless shelters have resulted in a significant drop in public disorder downtown, according to statistics compiled by the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association.

“Our emergency homeless shelters don’t just help people on the street, they also provide benefits to the City as a whole,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Since the shelters opened in early December, we’ve seen significant drops in recorded incidents of trespassing and panhandling. It’s another indication that our efforts to reduce homelessness and help our most vulnerable are paying off.”

The statistics from the DVBIA show a number of positive trends due to the homeless shelters opening in December. These include:

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