Whereas the Province of British Columbia has yet to include the Village Model of housing in the Homes for People Action Plan as part of the housing continuum; And whereas the Village Model of housing has been replicated in communities across British Columbia and Canada as a proven, scalable strategy to rapidly meet the immediate shelter needs of the unhoused population including support services: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the Province of BC to amend the Homes for People Action Plan to include the Village Model of housing as part of the housing continuum along with a mechanism to ensure this model receives regular and ongoing funding from BC Housing.
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs The Province is dedicated to improving housing outcomes for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and affected communities through a variety of housing options. Expanding supportive housing and related services has been a priority for the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs through Belonging in BC, the provincial homelessness plan, which seeks to prevent and reduce homelessness throughout the province. The Village Model of Housing is one option that can be part of the solution to address housing challenges. Local governments can allow and regulate this type of housing through tools like official community plans, zoning bylaws, development permit areas and temporary use permits, and work with BC Housing to implement a range of housing options within existing investment opportunities to address the unique considerations in each local context.