Stephanie Pelletier is another number cast out into the cold.

The 39-year-old mother is one of 153 individuals in Vernon who don91裸聊视频檛 have a place to call home.

The number comes from a census and survey of homeless in Vernon, taken late last week around town.

Of that number of homeless, Pelletier is one of the 27 people counted sleeping in the homeless camp at Linear Park off 25th Avenue. Meanwhile, there are another 15 camped out at the north end of Vernon.

While she tries to stay warm in a tent every evening after a long night of working the streets, there are others who have some reprieve from the elements.

The census shows that Howard House takes in 51 individuals, the Gateway Shelter has 22, a temporary weather shelter has 10, Bill91裸聊视频檚 Place has nine individuals who identify themselves as homeless and the Vernon Women91裸聊视频檚 Transition House has 20 while one is in cells or hospital. It91裸聊视频檚 likely jail, as that91裸聊视频檚 where Pelletier says her 19-year-old daughter currently is for armed robbery.

She has another daughter, 18, who due to an unfortunate accident is addicted to heroin.

91裸聊视频淚 started supporting her habit so that she wouldn91裸聊视频檛 start doing the same thing as I was doing,91裸聊视频� said the lady of the night. 91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檓 not the greatest role model but I91裸聊视频檓 just trying.91裸聊视频�

Pelletier91裸聊视频檚 story is just one of the 153 in Vernon 91裸聊视频� up from 144 in 2016 91裸聊视频� plus there are about another 10 individuals known to be sleeping in vehicles.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 very concerning,91裸聊视频� said Kelly Fehr, co-executive director of the John Howard Society of the North Okanagan/Kootenay, which led the census. 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 an increase of nine over last year.91裸聊视频�

And to the fact that 44 people slept outside Thursday evening, Fehr says: 91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 a travesty and that should not be happening in Canada.91裸聊视频�

Yet those are just the numbers they know about.

91裸聊视频淲e know for sure there are more people than were captured in this (census),91裸聊视频� said Annette Sharkey with the Social Planning Council, who is analyzing the data.

But there is some reprieve.

With the shelters remaining near capacity and the weather getting colder, BC Housing is funding to keep the 23 seasonal mats open 24 hours a day. The extended hours begin Nov. 1 and run through to the end of March.

But with 44 people sleeping outside, the 23 beds don91裸聊视频檛 add up to enough support.

91裸聊视频淭hat doesn91裸聊视频檛 address the entire problem and it91裸聊视频檚 a temporary solution,91裸聊视频� said Fehr, adding that the average age is 52 of those accessing homeless shelters in Vernon.

Compared to last year, almost all of the census statistics actually show a decrease in individuals at shelters. Meanwhile, there are 11 more people sleeping in homeless camps and 10 additional homeless women accessing the transition house.

91裸聊视频淪o we know that there91裸聊视频檚 a major need for housing and recovery options for women,91裸聊视频� said Fehr, noting that Bill91裸聊视频檚 Place and Howard House have both recently opened up to women.

Historically, there has been no recovery residential options in Vernon for women. And while the recent addition has been made, even more is needed for both men and women.

91裸聊视频淥n an average, 20 people a month are turned away because there is no room,91裸聊视频� said Fehr of the situation at Bill91裸聊视频檚 Place, which has 19 recovery beds.

Sharkey adds: 91裸聊视频淲e have an opioid and addiction crisis right now in our province. If we force people into a place where they have to beg borrow and steal in order to feed that addiction, you91裸聊视频檙e going to see crime.91裸聊视频�

One thing Vernon could look at is a safe injection site, she suggests.

91裸聊视频淚f we as a community are outraged at seeing people using drugs outside and in the public and in public washrooms, there is an alternative to that with programs where people are supervised,91裸聊视频� said Sharkey.

While some of the homeless population are on the streets due to drugs, that91裸聊视频檚 not the case for everyone.

Low income and high rents are a major cause.

91裸聊视频淪imilar to last year, really it91裸聊视频檚 around the high cost of housing, so the rents are too high,91裸聊视频� said Sharkey. 91裸聊视频淩ight now we91裸聊视频檙e at a less than one per cent vacancy rate.

91裸聊视频淔or people who are particularly marginalized, there really are no options, so the only choice is to sleep outside.91裸聊视频�

That91裸聊视频檚 the case for Pelletier, and the 25-year-old girl who she shares a tent with.

91裸聊视频淚 was homeless last year at the same time too. I can91裸聊视频檛 afford rent by myself,91裸聊视频� said Pelletier, who has lived in Vernon for three years and has only had a home on three brief occasions.

91裸聊视频淚f I had a place to go, I wouldn91裸聊视频檛 be here,91裸聊视频� she said, while trying to stay dry in the rain. 91裸聊视频淪ome of us do choose to be here but some of us don91裸聊视频檛. Some of us don91裸聊视频檛 know how to get away from it or get out of the hole. I don91裸聊视频檛 know how to get out of here. It seems like I91裸聊视频檓 just getting further and further into it.91裸聊视频�

Watch The Morning Star for further details into the census as Sharkey and Fehr will be revealing additional data at Monday91裸聊视频檚 Vernon city council meeting.