Whereas local governments are dealing with the results of homelessness without financial supports due to new legislative changes by the Province of BC and funding mechanisms are insufficient to meet the growing demand for services in our communities; And whereas not enough supports have been put in place by the Province of BC for mental wellness, increased appropriate healthcare workers in communities, and addiction recovery services and supports: Therefore be it resolved that the Province of BC pay for costs incurred by local governments to address the lack of homelessness support, mental health and wellness issues, and addictions recovery services and supports; And be it further resolved that UBCM mandate their Executives to engage in discussions with the Province of BC to negotiate a fair and equitable reimbursement framework for downloading services related to homelessness and mental health and addictions; And be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Premier of BC, the Minister of Municipal Affairs, and all relevant stakeholders to advocate for immediate action.
Ministry of Health When people are in mental health crisis, they need quick compassionate support that meets them where they are at. As part of the Provinces Safer Communities Action Plan, government has expanded CRCL teams Crisis Response, Community-Led; formerly known as Peer Assisted Care Teams and Mobile Integrated Crisis Response MICR teams across the province. CRCLs are mobile mental health crisis response teams that provide an alternative to police-only crisis response for calls that do not involve violence or criminality. These teams help free up police resources to focus on crime. MICRs are staffed with police officers and mental health professionals specifically available to support people experiencing mental health and substance use crisis in the community and connect them with appropriate health care services. Currently, five CRCLs North and West Vancouver, New Westminster, Victoria, Prince George, and the Comox Valley are supporting individuals in crisis, connecting them to services, while diverting calls away from police. In 2024, these teams responded to 5,882 calls and only 1.3 percent needed to be escalated to police. 18 MICR teams also known locally by various names, including Car Programs are operating in communities across B.C. Abbotsford, Burnaby, Chilliwack, CoquitlamPort Coquitlam, Fort St. John, Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, North Vancouver, Penticton, Prince George, Richmond, Squamish, Surrey, Vancouver, Vernon, Victoria, and the Westshore to support individuals through de-escalation, clinical assessment, andor connections to appropriate services. Another provincial initiative, Complex Care Housing CCH, provides housing with support designed for people with significant health needs who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. Residents may have mental health or addiction challenges, brain injuries, intellectual or developmental disabilities, chronic illnesses, andor mobility issues. As of April 1, 2025, CCH services are in place for more than 570 people across the province, and an additional 240 units are in development. CCH is just one initiative within the Provinces Homelessness Plan, Belonging in BC, to prevent and respond to homelessness, and bring additional support to people who need them. Other components of Belonging in BC include: additional supportive housing units with increased health, social and cultural support; a new rent supplement program with health and social support; and funding for outreach-based health services to encampment sites. Urgent Homelessness Response funded services support immediate health, mental health, and substance use needs people unsheltered or living in encampments, temporary shelters, or moving into new housing and shelter sites. The Ministry of Health and health authorities support the coordination of encampment response and ensure outreach health supports are connected to encampment residents. The Supported Rent Supplement Program, currently in implementation in 17 priority communities, pairs a 600 Canada-BC Housing Benefit with wraparound health supports to enable individuals live independently in private market rentals. Enhanced Health in Supportive Housing offers health services within a Supportive Housing setting to integrate physical, mental health, substance use, and traditional health supports to help individuals maintain tenancy and long-term housing. The BC government has made significant investments to strengthen mental health and addiction services throughout the province. Budget 2025 provides more than 500 million over the fiscal plan to support and sustain addictions treatment and recovery programs established through previous budgets. This includes Road to Recovery R2R, Foundry, supports for children and youth and Indigenous-led treatment, recovery and aftercare services. R2R is a new and innovative model of addictions care that moves people seamlessly through detox, treatment, and recovery services. The model was first launched with Vancouver Coastal Health and Providence Health Care in Vancouver in 2023. In July 2024, the Province announced that they would begin working with health authorities to make the model available to everyone in B.C. The R2R expansion will include up to an additional 100 substance use treatment beds and outpatient services in all health authorities, as well as a single-access line to connect patients to addictions care in each health authority. Once fully implemented, people will be able to call the Access Central phone line in their region to speak with a doctor or nurse to obtain a clinical assessment and be matched with the right level of care to support their recovery journey.