Dozens march in Surrey to raise awareness about homelessness

Dozens marched in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood Friday to raise awareness about homelessness – an issue affecting a growing number of seniors.

Dozens marched in Surrey’s Newton neighbourhood Friday as part of Homeless Action Week, a yearly march that raises awareness about the issue of homelessness.

Sources Community Resources Society, the organization behind Friday’s march, says more seniors are struggling this year.

Jay Blaschuk, the housing support services manager at Sources, says many are experiencing lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“There’s a lack of housing in general and high competition for people to get into housing,” explains Blaschuk.

The latest homeless count, conducted in March, shows 5,232 people were unhoused across the region – a nine per cent increase from the last count in 2023.

According to the report, 22 per cent of people experiencing homelessness are seniors, with many of them reporting they have no place to call home for the first time in their lives.

The report also states that there has been an 89 per cent increase since 2020 in the number of seniors experiencing homelessness.

“Everybody’s struggling in this economy. Everybody’s looking at their own challenges, but we’re out here to remind you that there are still people who are sleeping on the streets,” says Blaschuk.

Susan Sanderson, the executive director of the Realistic Success Recovery Society, says there are also fewer community spaces for people to use to stay warm and socialize with others.

“The kind of spaces where 10 years ago, people might be able to find some support or spend some time in the library or community centre, those aren’t available,” Sanderson says.

It’s a trend being seen at other non-profits. Atira Women’s Resource Society says senior women face added barriers to accessing housing.

“(They need spaces where they can) feel safe, culturally, but also just in a space where they know that there are others who are there for them in community,” explains Donna-Lynn Rosa, Atira CEO.

She’s calling on the province to step up in providing senior specific support.

“I think very clearly we need to invest in more supportive, senior-targeted housing, for sure, but we also need to look at what’s existing now, so things like SAFER: Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters. We need improvement for these policies,” Rosa says.