Homeless Count Tables - City of Prince George

Prince George Homeless Count Report 2010
3.8 Reasons for Homelessness
Respondents were asked to identify the main reasons they feel they do not have their own place. Table
17 provides a summary of the reasons chosen by respondents. The three most commonly reported
responses were:
o Cost of housing/can’t afford rent/mortgage (146 people or 40.4%);
o Pay or welfare not enough or not available (126 people; 34.9%); and
o Issues with alcohol/substance misuse (114 people; 31.6%).
Table 17 Reasons for Homelessness*
Reasons for Homelessness
# of respondents
(n = 361) %
Cost of housing/can’t afford rent/mortgage 146 40.4
Pay or welfare not enough / not available 126 34.9
Alcohol/substance misuse 114 31.6
Unemployment 90 24.9
Other** 54 14.9
Divorce/family rejection 44 12.2
Lack of education 42 11.6
Abuse/conflict/personal safety 39 10.8
My health/family member illness 35 9.7
Government policy/new rules 34 9.4
My choice not to have a place 26 7.2
Moved to find work 26 7.2
Eviction/foreclosure 24 6.6
No answer 22 6.1
*Respondents were able to choose up to three reasons. **For a complete list of ‘other’ reasons
provided by respondents please see Appendix A, Table A 10.
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