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By Victor Kaisar

Homeless Deaths

New data shows sharp increase in number of homeless people who died in Prince George-area

Mar 9, 2025 | 10:59 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — New data from the BC Coroners Service shows the number of people experiencing homelessness who died in the Prince George area rose by almost 50 per cent from 2022 to 2023.

There were 28 such deaths in the Northern Interior Health Service Delivery Area, which includes Prince George and much of the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George, Quesnel, Burns Lake and Vanderhoof.

That was up from 19 deaths in the 2022 and 17 in 2021, according to the Coroners, who also said there were 46 total deaths among homeless people across Northern Health in 2023.

The coroners also defined a person experiencing homelessness as someone living outdoors, or in a car, or in emergency, temporary or short-term shelter.

Across B.C., there were 458 deaths in 2023, a 23 per cent increase from the 373 recorded the year before. About 75 per cent of the people who died in 2023 were between the ages of 30 and 59, and approximately 79 per cent were males, according to the report.

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The Coroners also say 91 per cent of the 2023 deaths were classified as accidental, including 86 per cent due to drug toxicity. Natural causes accounted for 24 of the non-accidental deaths, while suicide and homicide accounted for seven and two respectively.

“The data speaks to the tragic reality of the struggles many face in our communities throughout BC,” chief coroner Dr. Jatinder Baidwan said. “During the period studied, between 2016 and 2023, the deaths of 1,940 people were reported to the BC Coroners Service, identified as experiencing homelessness.”

The Coroners do say that the data should be interpreted with caution as they do not investigate all deaths of people experiencing homelessness. They also say said the data is preliminary and that is is subject to change as more investigations wrap up.