Abbotsford reports 20% decrease in homelessness

The City of Abbotsford has announced a 20% decline in its annual Point-in-Time Homeless Count. The 2026 count, conducted on October 7, identified 521 people experiencing homelessness, a decrease of 133 individuals compared to the 654 recorded in 2025. This marks the first decline in the city's homeless population since 2011.

According to the results, 248 individuals were unsheltered, 223 were in emergency shelters, 28 were staying in hospitals with no fixed address, and 22 were in transitional housing. The city attributed the reduction to collaborative efforts between local government, BC Housing, and service providers to transition individuals from encampments into stable housing. This included the closure of encampments at Cole Road, McCallum Road, Peardonville Road, and Whatcom Road.

Mayor Ross Siemens noted that while the reduction is encouraging, the city will continue to update its homelessness action plan to address the ongoing complexities of the issue.