Finance committee  We did regional counts of absolute homelessness in this region in 2002 and 2005. Between those years, the count doubled. It went from 1,000 to over 2,200 persons as of March 2005. We're seeing an increase in persons at risk of homelessness. Currently about 55,000 households in

Finance committee  And to low incomes. We have incomes that are lower than the national average, and they are decreasing in this region.

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the committee from the Greater Vancouver Regional District for this opportunity to address you this morning. The Greater Vancouver Regional District is a federation of 21 member municipalities in the Lower Mainland. Our board is made up of