A report compiled by the BC Coroners Service has found that 458 homeless people died across the province in 2023.
Only 25 passed away of natural causes, with the vast majority losing their lives to drugs.
According to the report, of the 419 deaths deemed "accidental," 394 were caused by "unregulated drug toxicity." The details of the remaining 25 were not revealed.
Seven people died via suicide, two were murdered, and in six cases, the reason for death was undetermined. Of those who passed, 79% were men, and 75% were aged 30 to 59.
The rate of homeless people dying in British Columbia has increased steadily since 2020. That year, a total of 155 were reported dead, 129 of whom died due to drugs. The 2023 numbers represent a 300% increase.
Data included both sheltered and unsheltered homeless people. The former refers to those staying at emergency shelters, safe houses, transition houses, or with friends or family, while the latter refers to those who live on the streets, in their vehicles, or "any other structure not intended for habitation."
Broken down by health service delivery area, Vancouver saw the highest number of deaths, 77, followed by Central Vancouver Island, Fraser East, and Fraser South, which came in at 55, 50, and 47, respectively.
As of 2022, there were an estimated 28,710 homeless people in British Columbia.