New data from the 2025 Point-in-Time Homelessness Count shows a mixed picture in Northern B.C., with some communities seeing increases and others slight declines.
Williams Lake saw its homeless population rise to 100 people this year, up from 77 in 2023. Prince Rupert also saw a sharp increase, from 69 to 107 people. Quesnel and Fort St. John also reported increases.
Meanwhile, Terrace — still one of the region’s highest — dropped from 156 to 131 people. Smithers, Kitimat, and Dawson Creek also reported fewer people experiencing homelessness than two years ago.
Across all eight northern communities, Indigenous people remain significantly overrepresented. In some areas, they make up more than 70% of the homeless population. Many respondents reported early experiences of trauma, including time in the foster care system and first becoming homeless as youth.
The count also showed that most people experiencing homelessness in the region are long-term community members, not newcomers — highlighting the need for local housing and support services.
The 2025 snapshot was taken over a 24-hour period in April and included surveys in 20 B.C. communities. A full provincial report is expected this winter.
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