A new poll suggests homelessness is the biggest issue facing the Vancouver and its suburbs, far surpassing even crime and health care.

"I don't like it. I don't think anyone likes it," said Mike, 44, who lives in the bush of Maple Ridge.

The poll was conducted by the Strategic Counsel for CTV, the Globe and Mail and CKNW Radio. When asked what is the most important issue facing the Vancouver area, 24 per cent said homelessness.

Here are the complete results:

• Homelessness: 24 per cent
• Traffic and transit: 22 per cent
• Health care: 14 per cent
• Crime: 12 per cent
• House prices: 10 per cent
• Poverty: 7 per cent
• Environment: 2 per cent

The poll sampled 500 Vancouver residents in the last week of November. The margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

Mike spent 15 years as a carpet layer until a car crash. His life then spiraled down -- he became addicted to crystal meth, lost all of his money and started living on the streets. He has been homeless for four years.

Mike has been homeless for four years and carries a knife for protection.

He carries a knife for protection, "always, 24 to seven," after his friends were attacked by teenagers.

"I had a friend who had his back broken by three punks, because he was in a bin trying to get some clothes out of it," he told CTV Vancouver.

"It was rich kids, driving around in a Cadillac. They got nothing better to do than go beat up on homeless or shoot them with paint guns."

Dave Taylor, an Outreach Worker who tries to help homeless people like Andy in Maple Ridge, said there are more than a dozen living in tents or tarps, despite the frigid temperatures.

"Through some of my observations ... we 'guesstimate' it at about 25 to 30 people still living out in the cold weather," he said.

When asked whether the problem of homelessness is improving, the vast majority of respondents said it's getting worse:

• Getting worse: 72 per cent
• Staying the same: 22 per cent
• Better: 2 per cent

One person sleeps outside on the cold city concrete.

Within the city of Vancouver, most homeless shelters fill up at night, forcing workers to turn people away.

"It's painful to have to do that," said a woman at the First Baptist Church shelter, located in downtown Vancouver.

The poll also asked respondents: How serious is the issue of homelessness in Vancouver? Just seven per cent of respondents in total felt the problem was not serious:

• Total serious: 93 per cent
• Very serious: 53 per cent
• Somewhat serious: 40 per cent
• Total not serious: 7 per cent
• Not too serious: 4 per cent
• Not at all serious: 3 per cent

Anyone wanting to donate to charities helping the homeless can contact the following organizations:

• Salvation Army: 1-800-725-2769
• Convenant House: 604-685-7474
• The Front Room: 604-681-8678
• Downtown East Side Woman's Shelter: 604-681-8480
• Union Gospel Mission: 604-215-5444

With reports from CTV Vancouver