Homelessness in Abbotsford
The progress in addressing homelessness often appears to be almost nonexistent. Any successes reached tend to be swallowed up by the ever-present, and growing challenges around homelessness. Some of the issues can "fly below the radar", while others confront us on a daily basis.
Abbotsford is fortunate to have a large number of service providers who expend large sums of money and direct large amounts of human resources in addressing homelessness. The City assists where it can and within the parameters of its mandate.
Collectively, a significant number of initiatives have been completed, and more are in progress. Funding from the federal government has not been accessible to this point, however, that too may soon change. In the meantime, we continue to address the issue in a variety of ways. The following provides a list, albeit an incomplete list, of some of the achievements over the last 6 years, or so.
Christine Lamb
Residence, 2012 – 41 units of
supportive housing for women and children who are at risk of homelessness. City
land provided
George Schmidt Centre,
2013 – 30 units of supportive housing for men who are at risk of homelessness.
City land provided
Gladys Housing
Project, 2017 – 30 unit supportive-housing for homeless men. City land
provided
Lynnhaven Society,
2013 – 64 units of furnished rental
housing to seniors on very low income. City funds provided through DCC costs
reduction
Elizabeth Fry Firth
Residence – 22 units of transitional housing to women and women with
children, helping them break cycles of addiction, poverty, and homelessness
Homelessness &
Housing Coordinator, 2015– a new position created in the City, which has
paid dividends in a very short time (through initiatives, planning, grants
applied for which are bearing fruit now).
Mayor’s initiative to
engage the faith community – first dialogue has just occurred, with more to
follow in the new year. Providing opportunities for the wider faith community
to become engaged in addressing gaps in the homelessness support system. Through
this initiative, faith community stepped up and provided funds for Salvation
Army kitchen to continue providing breakfasts through the winter.
Rental Connect –
new initiative, engaging the faith community, in identifying rental options and
support for landlords willing to accommodate those who are either homeless or
in danger of homelessness. This is supported by a generous grant from the
federal government, as a result of City staff efforts.
Emergency Shelter
on Riverside Rd., 2015 – 40 bed emergency shelter with supportive care; (City
provided land and capital costs to get it operational); lobbied gov’t to extend
funding to keep it open through this last summer.
Dignity Village –
in limbo; waiting on proponents to respond to City staff’s requests for
important details. (No guarantee this will get Council approval, if and when
the proponent meets his requirements.)
Collaborative Road-Mapping
- approach that engaged all interested community stakeholders in designing a
strategy to prevent and respond to homelessness in Abbotsford. Pieces of this
strategy are being initiated now, and more will follow. A very significant
amount of federal funding is dependent on doing this well, and we are led to
believe that funding is imminent. (significant staff time invested)
