- About Youth Vital Signs
- Who We Are
- Background
- Key Findings and Grades
- Arts Scene
- Going Green
- Poverty
- Youth Voice
- Youth Spaces
- Health and Well-being
- Youth Housing and Homelessness
- Education and Learning
- Safety
- Employment and Training
- Transportation
- Culture, Identity and Belonging
- Mobile Text Survey
- Grader Profile
- Differences Among Us
- Youth in Action
- Links to Community and Resources
- Find Us
Key Findings and Grades - Youth Housing and Homelessness
FAST FACTS
No Vacancies
Generally, Vancouver youth have few options. In 2008, the city’s apartment vacancy rate hit a low of 0.3%, after two years of stable but low vacancies. Of 54,442 total rental units in our city, only 160 were available as of October 2008. Only 96 of 36,840 one-bedroom apartments were vacant.
Source: Rental Market Report, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2008.
The High Cost of Rent
From 2006 to 2008, the average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver surged 11% to $936 a month. Living in a one-bedroom apartment would cost the average youth more than 80% of their income.
Source: Rental Market Report, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2008; and the Social Planning and Research Council of B.C.
Young and Homeless
The 2008 Homelessness Count found 270 homeless youth under age 25, and 59 under age 19. Estimates of the actual youth homeless population in our region range as high as 900. On count night, only 89 youth stayed in a shelter – twice as many slept outside or couch surfed.
Source: 2008 Metro Vancouver Homelessness Count
YOUTH IN ACTION
Opening Doors
The Broadway Youth Resource Centre’s supported-housing program rents apartments and sublets them to at-risk youth, to support their transition towards independent living. Their staff liaise with landlords and do everything they can to help youth make the most of this opportunity by providing one-to-one support, life skills and employment training.
www.pcrs.ca