Seven lives were lost in Burnaby involving individuals experiencing homelessness in 2021, according to a new BC Coroners Service report.
In data released today (Oct. 12), the BC Coroners Service said there were 247 deaths provincially among individuals experiencing homelessness in 2021, which equates to a 75 per cent increase compared to the number of deaths reported in 2020 (141).
The report states an individual experiencing homelessness is defined as a person living outdoors, in a make-shift shelter, a parked vehicle or any other structure not intended for habitation.
The definition also includes a person staying at an emergency shelter overnight or temporarily sheltered (suspected to be less than 30 days) by friends or family, in a short-term shelter, temporary modular housing, a safe house for youth or a transition house for women and children fleeing violence.
Those residing in short-term shelters, safe houses or transition houses for an unknown length of time were also included in the data.
From 2012 to 2021, Burnaby has seen 21 deaths reported to the BC Coroners Service involving individuals experiencing homelessness.
"This report reflects the risks and realities that people experiencing homelessness face every day," BC chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said in a news release.
"We know that many are facing significant health concerns, including physical disabilities, mental-health challenges and substance-use issues. Additionally, as is also evident in the province's housed population, the report details the significant risks associated with toxic drugs for those who are unhoused. My hope is that this information will help support positive action, both during Homelessness Action Week and beyond."
The report said 74 per cent of deaths between 2012 and 2021 were classified as accidental. Of the accidental deaths, 87 per cent were determined to have been caused by illicit drug toxicity.
Natural deaths accounted for 13 per cent of the deaths while seven were classified as suicides.
"The BC Coroners Service's death review panel report into illicit drug toxicity deaths found a high correlation between deaths due to drug toxicity and persons living in poverty or experiencing housing instability," Lapointe added.
"Almost one-third of the 2,117 decedents in the panel's protocol cohort were either living outdoors or in temporary shelters. This data in this release reinforces the panel's recommendations: the urgent creation of a provincewide framework for distribution of safer supply; the establishment of clear goals, targets and deliverable timeframes to reduce the number of illicit drug toxicity events and deaths; and the establishment of an evidence-based continuum of care."
The townships with the highest number of deaths were Vancouver (248), Surrey (127) and Victoria (99).
