Whereas British Columbia has at least 7,655 homeless people, and homelessness robs people of their security, dignity, rights and lives, as homeless people have about half the life expectancy as housed people; And whereas Bill C-97 June 21, 2019 containing the National Housing Strategy Act, and the federal right to housing legislation enshrines the need to recognize that the right to adequate housing is a fundamental human right affirmed in international law.: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM call upon the Province to declare a Homelessness Emergency and work with all orders of governments, BC Housing and other partners on a Homelessness Emergency Plan to build or find dignified, affordable housing for homeless people across BC.
Ministry of Attorney General and Minister responsible for Housing Across the Province, homelessness is being exacerbated by the dual public health emergencies of the COVID-19 pandemic and the overdose crisis, as well as an affordable housing crisis. The Province is committed to working with all orders of government, BC Housing, health authorities and community partners to prevent and reduce homelessness, to increase affordable housing and to provide dignified health, cultural and social supports for vulnerable people. The Province has partnered with the federal government to implement the 70-billion National Housing Strategy, which aims to eliminate chronic homelessness, build 125,000 new homes and bring half a million families out of core housing need over 10 years. In Budget 2018 the provincial government committed to a 10-year affordable housing plan, Homes for BC, which includes partnering to deliver 114,000 new units of affordable housing, including supportive housing, and increasing security for renters. This plan includes a historic investment of 7 billion over 10 years to build 39,110 units of affordable housing, including 14,350 rental units for low-to-middle income families and individuals; 4,900 new units of supportive housing for individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness; 1,750 units of social housing for Indigenous people; and 1,500 units for women fleeing problematic domestic situations. The 4,900 units of supportive housing for the homeless include 2,000 units funded through the Rapid Response to Homelessness Program, 2,500 units with 247 support services through the Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund, and an additional 200 units funded in Budgets 2019 and 2020. Of these, over 2,600 have been completed so far, with hundreds more in the development phases in communities across the province. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the province has supported the addition of over 80 emergency response centres and 3,500 additional spaces to support safe sheltering, isolation, transitional housing, and the orderly disbanding of several encampments consisting of hundreds of people across the province, including several large encampments in Victoria and Vancouver. Budget 2021 includes an additional 265 million in 2021-22 to extend supports and services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. This will maintain 3,000 temporary emergency shelter and hotel spaces made available to these communities during the pandemic. In November 2020, the Province issued new mandates to ministries to address homelessness. The Ministry of Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing has a mandate to lead the development of a provincial Homelessness Strategy. In support of this Strategy, the Ministry and BC Housing are planning the transition of the people in these 3,500 spaces to appropriate, permanent options over time when the COVID restrictions are removed. The Ministries of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Health, Mental Health and Addictions, Municipal Affairs, and Children and Family Development are co-mandated to support this work. A new Cabinet Working Group on Mental Health, Addictions and Homelessness has been formed to support coordinated efforts. The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction continues to lead the Poverty Reduction Plan, TogetherBC, released as part of Budget 2019, which includes key actions to reduce poverty long-term and to provide opportunities for jobs and skills training.