Anecdotal evidence indicates that fewer people are living on the streets of New Westminster than a year or two ago.

The 2008 24-hour count of homeless people found that there were 124 people who were homeless in New Westminster, with 72 of them living on the street. That was an increase of 35 per cent from the count that was done in 2005.

The homeless count is generally considered an undercount because it doesn't include people who are "couch surfing" or staying in detox facilities, holding cells, hospitals or recovery houses.

In response to complaints about homeless people on the streets, the City of New Westminster initiated a homeless patrol. Each morning, a bylaw enforcement officer and a police officer, followed by a sanitation truck, would go out and move individuals along and clean up any mess left behind.

"We have discontinued that at this time," said John Stark, the city's social planner. "The numbers have just not been there. They have fallen dramatically."

Stark said that doesn't mean there aren't any homeless people in New Westminster, but they may be located in more concealed areas.

Stark said it wasn't unusual to find 10 to 15 people sleeping near Front Street two years ago, but that's no longer the case.

The city still gets reports of homeless people sleeping in uptown locations and near Clarkson Street in the downtown.

City officials have noticed a drop in people living on the street and are getting fewer calls from businesses that are concerned about people sleeping in doorways or leaving behind debris or personal items.

"We did have private security in the downtown," Stark added. "We didn't renew that."

Stark believes the decrease in homeless people on New Westminster streets is due to the actions taken since a homeless action plan was developed in 2006. He credits improved collaboration among social service agencies, more outreach, a regional response to homelessness, support from B.C. Housing and increased housing resources in New Westminster as factors contributing to the local situation.

In the past year, new transitional housing beds have opened at Maria Keary Cottages and the Russell Housing Centre. More beds will soon be opening at the Rhoda Kaellis Residence.

"I think we are starting to see the benefits of having those beds," Stark said. "With the Russell and Maria Keary Cottages, we have that increased capacity."

Stark also credits local social service agencies for catching people at risk of homelessness before they are homeless or soon after becoming homeless.

Coun. Jonathan Cote, chair of the city's community and social issues committee, believes the decline in visible homelessness on city streets is directly related to the opening of the Russell Housing Centre and the Maria Keary Cottages.

"It really speaks to the Housing First," he said about a model for dealing with homelessness. "You deal with housing first, and then you can deal with the other issues that go along with homelessness."

According to Stark, the next homeless count is slated to take place in 2011.

"If the housing count was to happen today, I think the numbers would be lower," he said. "I think there's been a lot of progress made."