City of Mission urges province to step up as homeless are housed at local rec centre following fire

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Fire in Mission. (Image Credit: Lorenzo Girotto, with permission.)

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In the meantime, Mission Community Services Society is coordinating food, clothing, and other essential supports, while additional security has been put in place at the Mission Leisure Centre to ensure a safe environment for both those staying at the reception centre and members of the public using the facility.

“While the City was prepared to provide an immediate emergency response, the reception centre was never intended to serve as a long-term housing solution,” the city said in a statement. “The City is urging BC Housing and its partners to move quickly to identify more appropriate temporary accommodations while the extent of the damage to Haven in the Hollow is assessed.”

Mayor Paul Horn says the fire and its impact on the homeless residents is now a top priority for the municipality.

“The fire at Haven in the Hollow has severely impacted the individuals staying at the shelter and our entire community, and it has become our top priority in Mission,” said Mayor Paul Horn. “We have asked the Province to act quickly to provide critical resources. Our expectation is that all lines of communication will be fully open and that everyone will act in partnership to ensure that people are properly housed and that our Leisure Centre can return to normal operations. We have already asked to meet with the Province on housing issues, and we hope this will accelerate those discussions. We will keep the community up to date as the situation develops.”

Residents in Mission-area Facebook groups have voiced displeasure around the presence of homeless individuals at the Mission Leisure Centre, citing public drug use in the parking lot and near a skate park in the city.

The city stresses that the Mission Leisure Centre remains open, and the majority of programs and services continue to operate as scheduled. While some programming has been adjusted due to the temporary use of the community gym, the city says it is committed to minimizing impacts to residents while emergency support continues.

“The City thanks Mission Fire Rescue Service, Mission Emergency Management, Emergency Support Services, Mission Community Services Society, BC Housing, the Salvation Army, BC Transit, City staff, volunteers, and all partner agencies for their ongoing support of those displaced by the fire,” the city said. “Community members have expressed a strong desire to help. At this time, there is no immediate need for public donations, as essential supports are being coordinated through partner agencies. If additional assistance is required, the City will share updates through its official communication channels.”