Image: City of Abbotsford / Despite growing numbers of unhoused people throughout the Fraser Valley, the City of Abbotsford says it is taking action to combat homelessness through the implementation of multiple initiatives.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

City of Abbotsford

City of Abbotsford taking multiple steps to address homelessness

May 7, 2024 | 3:38 PM

ABBOTSFORD — The effects of the homelessness epidemic across British Columbia are widespread, and few cities throughout the province are immune from its growing influence.

Case in point, the Fraser Valley Regional District says its most recent homelessness survey found over 1,000 people living on the streets and in the bush during a March 2023 survey count that covered Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Mission, Kent and the surrounding communities.

In light of these grim statistics and the growing reality that housing is extremely expensive across the province, the City of Abbotsford says it is taking action to combat homelessness through the implementation of multiple initiatives.

According to a statement on the city’s website, the municipality reports that it is better equipping front-line support workers, lobbying the provincial government for more detox beds in the Fraser Health region, and working with the B.C. government to provide more shelter space and temporary housing beds.

The city says it unveiled its new Community Homelessness Information Application (CHIA) app on March 20 to help community outreach workers provide timely and effective services to those experiencing homelessness by tracking service delivery in encampments, accessing real-time bed inventory updates at shelters and developing historical data to advocate for more resources. CHIA facilitates enhanced coordination between service agencies and organizations, ultimately leading to improved support and access to housing.

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Closely related to the topic of homelessness is how the Province is addressing mental health and substance use issues.

In 2024, the City of Abbotsford presented a resolution to the Lower Mainland Local Government Management Association that calls on the B.C. NDP government to provide additional rapid access to detox beds in the Fraser Health region. Despite its size and population, the Fraser Health region only has one publicly-funded facility that offers rapid access to detox and with only 24 beds, the city wrote.

“We know that wait times act as a barrier for those seeking treatment, so the City of Abbotsford is advocating for Fraser Health to increase this number,” the city said. “Given the significant need for these services in many communities, the resolution was amended last week to reflect an expansion of rapid access to detox across the province. This amended resolution will now be considered at the Union of BC Municipalities’ 2024 convention in September.”

On April 26, the City and Province ratified an MOU (memorandum of understanding) reaffirming their joint commitment to working together to support people experiencing homelessness. It includes the development of new shelter and housing options through BC Housing’s Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) program and providing increased support to people currently living in encampments through the Homeless Encampment Action Response Team (HEART) program.

Image: City of Abbotsford / On April 26, Mayor Siemens and BC Housing Minister Kahlon signed an MOU between the City and Province reaffirming our shared commitment to working together on homelessness. Agriculture Minister and Abbotsford-Mission MLA Alexis and Lookout Health and Housing Society Board President Chuck Puchmayr also attended.

In addition to the MOU signing, the B.C. government has pledged to fund several investments in Abbotsford to help homeless people in the community. The province, through BC Housing, is providing $48.8 million in capital and operating funding toward projects that will bring more than 220 new shelter spaces and supportive housing to Abbotsford. This includes 111 new temporary shelter spaces consisting of 59 beds at the Travelodge at 1821 Sumas Way, 22 beds at 2509 Pauline St., and a proposal to open another 30 at 2539 Montvue Ave. – along with a new 60-unit permanent supportive home for men recovering from addiction and at risk of homelessness at 31250 King Rd., and a 50-bed shelter at 34520 Lonzo Rd. to replace the 40-bed shelter at 1640 Riverside Rd., which opened the first week of May.