Over the past four years in the City of Courtenay, we have added 1,200 new units, over 80 units of subsidized and supportive units (Braidwood and The Junction), opened the Connect Warming Centre as a place for the unhoused to go for support, and opened the Ocean Front Village adding 126 units of publicly funded seniors housing. Yet due to the extreme escalating costs of housing, the toxic opioid epidemic, and lack of adequate mental health and addictions support – there is a perfect storm that has resulted in record homelessness in our community, across B.C. and across Canada.
The City of Courtenay has worked in partnership with members of the Coalition to End Homelessness and I attend the executive meetings whenever possible. This has led to attending housing conferences and learning best practices from around the world. It also alerted the city to the possible loss of the Strengthening Communities Grant which the coalition almost lost, but the city was able to save it so programs like the Connect Warming Centre could remain open.
We need to continue to work collaboratively with senior levels of government to assist them in achieving their mandate on homelessness.
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