Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness In Prince George

By Submitted Article

By Rich Coleman

Minister of Housing and Social Development

Providing housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness is a priority for the provincial government. With more than 20 communities across British Columbia joining with the provincial
government to recognize Oct. 12-19 as Homelessness Action Week, more partnerships will be created to find solutions so people can have safe, secure, and affordable housing.

This year, the provincial budget for affordable housing and shelter exceeds $400 million, more than three times as much as in 2001. In Prince George, the provincial government is spending over $6.7 million,
allocated to 1,065 units for low income renters, plus another 292 for elderly renters and 166 for families. These families receive direct monthly cash assistance under our Rental Assistance Program, providing
working families with at least one dependent child making under $35,000 annually with an average monthly payment of approximately $350, helping them make ends meet. They choose where they want to live and the
Province forwards them funds every month to help offset their rental costs.

Our housing strategy, Housing Matters BC, is leading the way in Canada to address homelessness by working with other levels of government, the private sector, health authorities, and many community agencies and
non-profit housing societies to create more affordable housing. With their co-operation, we have committed to creating more than 15,900 new housing units since 2001, including more than 4,000 units to reduce
homelessness.

In Prince George, there are more than 50 new units to help house homeless people, including AWAC Women's Shelter and the Village youth shelter. Also under construction is the 30-unit Friendship Lodge.

We know that breaking the cycle of homelessness requires more than just housing, so we established the Homeless Outreach Program, which operates in 47 communities, including Prince George. Outreach workers
provide assistance to people on the street by offering not only food, clothing and shelter, but also access to transition services such as life-skills training and health and social programs. By providing intensive, one-on-one help, the outreach workers enable them to receive health, nutrition and other basic services. Housing has been found for more than 2,500 people who were previously on the street.

We have more than quadrupled the budget for the Emergency Shelter Program since 2001, with approximately $50 million in annual funding to support more than 1,500 year-round shelter beds. Most shelters are now
open 24/7, so that people are not forced out onto the streets during the day, and have access to services to help them connect to more permanent forms of housing, income supports, and assistance with a
range of health issues.

Local governments have been responding to our challenge to identify and offer sites for new supportive housing, and to expedite development approvals to overcome "NIMBYism". They recognize that this type of
housing, where people can receive help for a range of issues including mental health and addiction problems, must be created and that it's the right thing to do. We've committed to creating up to 1,700 of these
types of housing units, partnering with the cities of Vancouver, Victoria, Kelowna, Surrey, and Abbotsford, with negotiations underway with other cities. In exchange for city-owned building sites and expedited approvals, the Province pays for pre-development costs and arranges for capital and operating funding.

We have also moved aggressively to protect existing affordable housing. We've purchased 19 single room occupancy (SRO) hotels in Vancouver, Victoria and New Westminster with more than 1,100 rooms, and purchased
affordable apartment buildings and townhouses in Kamloops, Burnaby, Victoria, Surrey, Quesnel and Port Alberni. In total, we've purchased 30 buildings for $96 million since 2007, protecting and upgrading more
than 1,400 units of affordable housing. And we're going to spend another $90 million renovating those units so people have safe and secure places to live and create new opportunities for themselves.

Many organizations are holding events to mark Homelessness Action Week, and I encourage you to find out what is happening in your community and get involved to end homelessness. The provincial government has
demonstrated our financial commitment and we need people like you to help provide hope and opportunity for those who need it most.

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