Whereas the Emergency Social Services ESS program provides critical support during emergencies and disasters, enabling communities to deliver essential services including reception centers, food, shelter, and basic needs to impacted individuals; And whereas many local governments have facilities or infrastructure in need of upgrades or renovations to improve their capacity for delivering ESS services in emergencies and disasters including the creation of small-scale reception centers, secure storage for equipment, and training spaces for volunteers to enhance preparedness: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to amend existing Emergency Social Services Grant programs to include capital or renovation costs as eligible expenses, supporting the improvement of facilities used for the delivery of Emergency Social Services in communities across British Columbia.
