Editing Victoria, British Columbia (section)

===Homelessness===
A point-in-time homeless count was conducted by volunteers between 11 March and 12 March 2020, that counted at least 1,523 homeless that night.<ref>{{cite web|title=Where are Victoria's homeless coming from?|url=https://www.capitaldaily.ca/news/victoria-homeless-count-movement |first1=Anna J. |last1=James |date=11 August 2020 |access-date=2022-01-13|website=Capital Daily}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|date=2020-07-31|title=2020 Greater Victoria Point in Time Count Results Announced|url=https://www.crd.bc.ca/about/news/article/2020/07/31/2020-greater-victoria-point-in-time-count-results-announced|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Capital Regional District|language=en}}</ref> The homeless count is considered an underestimate due to the hidden homeless that may be [[couch surfing]] or have found somewhere to stay that is not on the street or homeless shelters.<ref name="autogenerated2"/> The first homeless count was conducted in January 2005 by the [[Victoria Cool Aid Society]] and counted a homeless population of approximately 700 individuals.<ref name="Homeless Count – 2005 Victoria, BC">[http://intraspec.ca/Homeless_Survey.pdf Homeless Count – 2005 Victoria, BC] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071012032858/http://intraspec.ca/Homeless_Survey.pdf |date=12 October 2007 }} Cool Aid Society. Retrieved 2008-07-03.</ref>

Like many west coast cities in North America the homeless population is both concentrated in specific areas (parts of Pandora avenue in Victoria) and is often outside due to milder climates that make homelessness more visible year-round.

The 2020 point-in-time homeless count found 35% respondents identified as being [[Indigenous peoples in Canada|Indigenous]]. This is over representative in the homeless population as only 4.7% of the overall population of Victoria identify as Indigenous.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |title=2020 Greater Victoria Point-in-Time Homeless Count and Housing Needs Survey |url=https://www.crd.bc.ca/docs/default-source/housing-pdf/housing-planning-and-programs/crd-pit-count-2020-community-report-2020-07-31.pdf |page=15}}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], many homeless people sheltered in camping tents within the city's parks and some roadside greenspaces, including in [[Beacon Hill Park]].<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-03-19|title=Victoria to end all-day camping in parks in May|url=https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/victoria-to-end-all-day-camping-in-parks-in-may-1.5354050|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Vancouver Island|language=en}}</ref> In March 2021, city council reinstated a bylaw prohibiting daytime camping in parks, and with support from the provincial government, pledged to find indoor accommodation for all those camping in parks.<ref>{{cite news|date=23 Mar 2021|title=B.C. signs deal with City of Victoria to end homeless camps, bring people inside|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/b-c-signs-deal-with-city-of-victoria-to-end-homeless-camps-1.5960285|website=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Bylaw banning daytime camping in Victoria parks back in force {{!}} Globalnews.ca|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/7828022/victoria-homeless-camping-bylaw/|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Global News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sheltering in Parks|url=https://www.victoria.ca/EN/main/city/bylaw-enforcement/sheltering-in-parks.html|website=City of Victoria|date=18 November 2024 }}</ref> Homeless campers from parks and other public spaces were housed temporarily in motels, the Save-on-Foods arena and a tiny home village on a portion of the Royal Athletic Park's parking lot.<ref>{{cite web|date=2021-05-14|title=North Park Tiny Home Village opens at Royal Athletic Park lot to 30 unhoused|url=https://www.vicnews.com/news/north-park-tiny-home-village-opens-at-royal-athletic-park-lot-to-30-unhoused/|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Victoria News|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2021-01-27|title=Save-on-Foods arena to again serve as Victoria homeless shelter|url=https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/save-on-foods-arena-to-again-serve-as-victoria-homeless-shelter-1.5284983|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Vancouver Island|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=2021-01-20|title=A closer look inside one of Victoria's 'homeless hotels'|url=https://www.cheknews.ca/from-opportunities-to-challenges-a-closer-look-inside-one-of-victorias-homeless-hotels-735846/|access-date=2022-01-13|website=CHEK|language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Chan|first=Adam|date=2021-04-28|title=B.C. buys Victoria hotel for $25M to use as shelter|url=https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/b-c-buys-victoria-hotel-for-25m-to-use-as-shelter-1.5406290|access-date=2022-01-13|website=Vancouver Island|language=en}}</ref>