The provincial government has released the data from the 2025 Terrace Point-in-Time (PiT) Homeless Count. Terrace conducted this count in April of this year, which marks the second provincially funded count, following the first in 2023.
A total of 131 individuals were listed as homeless in Terrace this year. Breaking it down, a total of 57 are living on the street, and 74 are living in shelters.
While that number doesn’t capture everyone who faces homelessness throughout the year, it represents the minimum number of people without stable housing on a single day. Officials clarify that the data isn’t perfect since it relies on staff and volunteers connecting directly with people, but it remains an important tool for planning local support.
The 2025 results indicate that 77 per cent of participants were Indigenous, compared to 22% of the general Terrace population. Of those, 91 per cent were First Nations, while 9% were Métis.
Most of those counted have a long history with the community. 81 per cent had resided in Terrace for at least a year, and 67 per cent had lived there for more than five years. 31 per cent said they had always lived in Terrace.
72 per cent had been homeless for a year or more, meanwhile 15 per cent said they had been homeless for under 6 months.
The top reasons for housing loss were not enough income (32 per cent), conflict with a spouse or partner (29 per cent), experiences of abuse (18 per cent), and substance use (18 per cent). For the first time, people were also asked if eviction led to their most recent housing loss, to which 31 per cent said yes.
63 per cent of respondents had visited an emergency room in the past year, 30 per cent had used health clinics, 34 per cent had accessed mental health services, 49 per cent had used food programs, and 13 per cent had used cultural services. Officials say these results show that while some people rely on emergency services, others may face barriers when accessing ongoing or culturally safe supports.
Most respondents, 81 per cent, reported that they received income or disability help, whereas 8 per cent had regular jobs. Less regular sources of income, such as refund of GST (23 per cent) and Old Age Security (7 per cent), were also reported.
Demographically, 58 per cent of respondents were male and 42 per cent were female. Two percent said they had a transgender experience, while 7 per cent said they were of respondents identified as Asexual, Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, Pan-sexual, Two-Spirit, Questioning, and/or Queer.
Adults between the ages of 25 and 54 comprised 69 per cent of respondents, with seniors (55+) at 19 per cent and youth (under 25) at 12 per cent.
Thirty-nine percent reported being in foster care, a statistic that increased to 52 per cent for Indigenous respondents. Almost half responded that they first experienced homelessness as a youth, and 39 per cent said they had been in foster care, a statistic increasing to 52 per cent for Indigenous respondents.
Health problems were also prevalent among respondents. 70 per cent recognized a mental health problem, 64 per cent had a substance use problem, 43 per cent had a medical condition, and 30 per cent had a physical disability. Over half, 56 per cent, had both mental health problems and a substance use problem.
The data shows that homelessness in Terrace mainly affects people who have lived in the community for a long time but face ongoing personal and systemic challenges. Officials say the numbers can change from year to year depending on factors like shelter space and the time of year.
Still, the results make one thing clear, that housing insecurity continues to impact many Terrace residents, especially Indigenous people who have been part of the community for generations.
