Whereas individuals facing severe mental health and addiction challenges require comprehensive and coordinated care, and the current resources in BC are insufficient to meet the growing demand for detoxification, rehabilitation, and supportive housing, leading to inadequate treatment and forcing individuals to leave their home communities for essential services; And whereas communities in British Columbia have experienced a significant increase in the street population, leading to heightened concerns about public safety, community well-being, and the challenges associated with mental health, substance abuse, and public disorder, while current policing resources remain insufficient to effectively address these complex issues: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM urge the provincial government to: - Increase funding and resources to expand and enhance detox and rehabilitation services across BC; - Establish initiatives that foster collaboration among local governments, government agencies, healthcare providers, nonprofit organizations, and community members to ensure effective coordination, resource allocation, and holistic support for individuals undergoing detox and rehabilitation; - Develop a provincial strategy to address homelessness by increasing funding for housing, shelter, and treatment services; and - Provide dedicated funding streams for local governments facing increased street population challenges, including direct grants through the Provincial Policing and Public Safety Fund, additional allocations to the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch, and enhanced federal contributions under the Reaching Home program to support specialized policing units, mental health crisis response teams, and community safety initiatives.
