Officials at Homeward Trust have released results from their 2014 homeless count – results found more than two thousand people in Edmonton are homeless, slightly higher than last year.

The 2014 count found 2,252 people without a home – an increase of 78 individuals, up 3.5 percent from 2012.

Since 2012, officials said the city’s population has grown 7.4 percent.

Despite the small increase, officials said the count had actually fallen since 2008 – down 27 percent overall.

“This count is a reminder that while we have made progress, much work remains, and we cannot be complacent as a community,” Homeward Trust CEO Susan McGee said.

Of the homeless counted more than a month ago, it’s estimated about 16 percent are new to the city, arriving within the last year. Officials said about 47 percent identified as aboriginal.

One concerning statistic is the rise in the number of homeless youth, that number has gone up by 17 percent, increasing from 481 to 562.

“The youth numbers can’t help but be a surprise to all of us, and the question why, that’s what keeps us up at night here at Homeward Trust,” McGee said.

This year, seven cities participated in the count – finding 6600 homeless Albertans.

With files from Veronica Jubinville