The number of people using the temporary shelter this month at Coquitlam Alliance Church was higher than last year even though homeless numbers are down.
Rob Thiessen, managing director of the Hope for Freedom Society, which runs the cold/wet weather mat program, said his group hasn't done the official count yet but he's predicting an increase over last year.
"It's surprising because we have a lot fewer homeless people to deal with," Thiessen said. "We went from a high of 215 in 2008 and now it's 48, so it's a dramatic dip."
He credits the mat program and the organization's own recovery program for people battling addictions for the drop in homeless numbers in the Tri-Cities.
Thiessen said it's hard to say when people are going to come in to the temporary shelter and why. "There was a time we had about 16 people coming in, and 12 of those people were part of a couple," he said. "Some of those have since been housed so it's difficult to predict, but it's up from last year."
In December, volunteers will be taking homeless people to Riverside Community Church to spend the night.
