Volunteers took to Richmond’s streets Wednesday to survey the city’s homeless population in hopes of finding out more about homelessness and how best to help.

Headquartered at St. Alban Anglican Church, the 44 volunteers worked two-hour shifts in four sections of the city. The survey was part of the Metro Vancouver Homeless Count, an event that occurs every three years.

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Not only did volunteers count the homeless, they also asked various questions about their well-being and inquired about the services they may or may not use or require.

Richmond’s lead volunteer organizer was Lynda Brummitt who noted the method isn’t without its faults, but the information that is gathered can help health and social service providers understand the needs of the general homeless population since there is little understanding of it as a whole.

“It’s not a perfect method. It’s like finding a needle in a haystack. We send waves of volunteers out there and see if people want to participate,” said Brummitt.

In 2011 there were 2,650 homeless noted in the survey, about the same number as 2008. Richmond had just 49 homeless people surveyed, down 13 per cent from 2008. Brummitt says the city’s homeless are more hidden than Vancouver’s.

“I think with Richmond, homelessness isn’t as visible. People may be couch surfing or living in cars. We know that the count is an underestimate and that’s particularly the case in a community like Richmond,” she said.

In Richmond, homeless people tend to live around shopping centres, parks or undeveloped green areas.

Brummitt said anecdotal information indicates many homeless people use the Canada Line, noting Richmond has an active and mobile homeless population. Many will go to Vancouver for shelter at night but stay in Richmond by day.

“They consider Richmond their home,” she said.

The biggest reason Richmond has a low homeless count relative to the region (Vancouver accounts for 60 per cent of all homeless) is because Vancouver has the majority of social services, Brummitt said.

Providing many of the few services for homeless in Richmond is the church where The Reverend Margaret Cornish and her colleagues, as well as several volunteers, do yeoman’s work helping the disadvantaged.

“We urgently need a permanent drop-in centre and shelter,” said Cornish.

Recently St. Alban had a new shower and laundry room installed, providing a much needed service for those who use the 16-bed extreme weather shelter or the drop-in centre from Monday to Friday that offers homeless people coffee, snacks and outreach.

Cornish said a neutral site could make some homeless feel more welcome and comfortable.

Volunteer Jennifer Larsen, a retired Richmond resident of 50-plus years, said the homeless require society’s understanding.

“You have to at least imagine what it would be like. But until you lose everything, I suppose you can never really know,” said Larsen.

In 2011 about one quarter of surveyed homeless self-identified as Aboriginal. Seventy per cent were male. The majority of homeless reported either mental illness, physical conditions or addiction