New Westminster may have house homeless individuals in a number of smaller sites this winter because a large space for an emergency response centre is proving to be hard to find.
An update from the city’s at-risk and vulnerable populations task force states there’s evidence that homelessness is increasing across Metro Vancouver, including New Westminster, and this trend will “likely accelerate” as a result of economic and employment restructuring related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I know that we are exploring several opportunities to find shelters for the homeless, but is there anything we can do more immediately?” said Coun. Chinu Das. “Because if we have another cold wave, I worry about how many homeless people will be on the streets. Is there anything for an immediate solution?”
John Stark, the city’s supervisor of community planning, said it’s anticipated to be a very cold winter, so city staff will continue to work with BC Housing, and hopefully provide shelter as quickly as possible.
The latest update from the task force says staff are continuing to work with BC Housing to identify a possible site for an emergency response centre, but it’s challenging to find a space that can accommodate 40 to 50 units.
“We may have to look at smaller sites, which isn’t ideal from a staffing, supervision or economies of scale, but that may have to be a necessity – using a number of smaller sites, rather than looking at a larger site,” Stark said. “Most of our civic sites are being phased back into operation, school facilities are in operation – there are a lot of challenges trying to find appropriately sized spaces. It is a priority for BC Housing, and we continue to work with them.”
The Cliff Block, which normally houses the city’s extreme weather program between Nov. 1 and March 31,has been operational since the emergency response centre at the Massey complex closed in July. While the facility previously accommodated 30 individuals, it’s now accommodating 16 people because of physical distancing requirements.
“The ideal number of emergency response centre beds is between 40 and 50 – with physical distancing, you need a very large space such as a large secondary school gymnasium or an arena,” Stark said. “We don’t have those types of spaces.”
Stark said BC Housing is looking to augment emergency shelter capacity in New West during the COVID-19 pandemic, but it’s also working towards providing longer-term supportive housing.
“We are working with BC Housing around longer-term supportive housing,” he said. “So, emergency shelter in the short-term to deal with COVID, but moving toward more supportive housing where people can be in one place for a year or two years or longer, and get the supports and save lives.”
