A new report indicates there are more than 200 homeless people in Saint John.

The port city's Human Development Council released A Portrait of Homelessness in Greater Saint John on Monday.

According to the 45-page document, in many ways homelessness is invisible in the city of about 122,000.

"They're people who live in shelters. They're people who are living in places that aren't meant to be lived in. They're people who are couch surfing; that's really predominant in the youth market," said Belinda Allen, research co-ordinator with the council. "Then there's also people who are at risk."

People often envision homeless people as lying on the sidewalk or park benches, Allen said. But in Saint John, many resort to living in their cars or occupying the city's 151 shelter beds.

The Salvation Army in Saint John has its beds almost full every night, said Gerry Cormier, a caregiver at the shelter. Cormier said it's been like that for years.

"It means we need more housing for these homeless people because there's not enough," he said.

Co-ordination recommended

But with the problem going unseen by many in the city, it means people don't understand it and believe there is a duplication of service, said Randy Hatfield, executive director of the council.

"I don't think vulnerable populations are being overserved in Saint John," Hatfield said. "I don't think the homeless population is being overserved. I will accept that there could be and there should be better co-ordination."

One of the report's recommendations is that social agencies work together to establish an inter-agency steering committee to provide leadership in providing services to the homeless and vulnerable in the city.

Carolyn McNulty, executive director of the Romero House mobile soup kitchen, said she hopes the report opens people's eyes to homelessness in the city.

"It's a fact that people are living in places that are not fit for an animal to live in — period," McNulty said.

The report also attempted to get a tally on the number of youth between the ages of 16 and 24 who were homeless and estimates there are at least 45 in the city.

Income gap predicted to grow

All numbers contained in the document, however, include a disclaimer that indicates it is hard to get definitive counts on homeless people in the city because there is no accurate way to count the people.

With the pending economic boom in Saint John as large-scale energy projects get underway, the report estimates that the income gap will become larger and homeless people will find it even more challenging to find affordable housing.

It has the potential to leave hundreds more people who are vulnerable without a place to live, says the report.

The report recommends that all levels of government more actively address homelessness. It suggests that minimum standards and bylaws for housing be established and that the city conduct an annual report card on homelessness.

It also says that the province's affordable housing program must be renewed.