The City of Coquitlam is pressing for federal and provincial action to address homelessness at and outside of 3030 Gordon Ave., a shelter and supportive housing facility.
On Monday, July 15, city council is expected to direct senior staff to fire off letters — under Mayor Richard Stewart’s signature — to BC Housing, as well as relevant federal and provincial ministries, with copies to MPs, MLAs, Tri-City stakeholders and RainCity, the operators of 3030 Gordon Ave., to raise concerns.
In his report to council, Andrew Merrill, Coquitlam’s general manager of planning and development services, wrote that the municipal frustrations “stem in part from the evolution of 3030 Gordon Ave. from its original approval as a combination overnight shelter and housing facility to what is now effectively a longer-term supportive housing project, but without the wrap-around services that such as project requires.”
“This evolution in services occurred without the input of Coquitlam.”
Today, July 12, the Tri-City News visited Gordon Avenue, which is now lined with tents on both sides of the street; there is also open drug use by the campers.
In its direction to council to send out letters, Coquitlam senior managers are recommending to:
- get an update from BC Housing about its progress on the 3030 Gordon Operational Review Report
- outline the city’s ongoing concerns about 3030 Gordon Ave., including operational challenges, costs and impacts to city services and resources
- highlight the growing challenge of homelessness in the Tri-Cities, the recent loss of shelter spaces and supportive housing, and the gaps in housing supports
- seek commitment from Victoria to fulfill its mandate and responsibilities to address homelessness, mental health and substance use issues
- indicate Coquitlam’s wish to support the provincial government and work with Tri-City stakeholders through a coordinated sub-regional approach to get more supportive housing, mental health services and substance use supports, as well as outreach
The letters come three months before the next provincial election and about a year-and-a-half prior to the federal vote.
According to the most recent homelessness count, in March 2023, homelessness in the Tri-Cities has spiked 86 per cent since 2020, to about 160 people, versus a 32 per cent hike across Metro Vancouver during the same period.
“The community, front line city staff, shelter, housing and support service providers acutely feel the increase in need and gaps in services,” Merrill noted.
Ongoing problems
Opened in 2015, the facility at 3030 Gordon Ave. was designed to offer supportive housing for 30 people and permanent shelter beds for 42 people.
Three years later, the cities of Coquitlam and Port Coquitlam raised the alarm after neighbours around 3030 Gordon Ave. complained about its impacts; a review offered 29 areas of action but “most of these actions that are the responsibility of the province remain unaddressed,” Merrill wrote.
Two years later, in 2020, the two cities again pressed the provincial government to step in; an independent review was released in June 2023 with 32 recommendations for operational changes.
Since then, Merrill said, there’s been a net loss of provincially funded shelter and supports for the homeless in the Tri-Cities, including:
- as of January 2024, a loss of Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) funding for Coquitlam to support outreach groups like Hope for Freedom, Phoenix Society, ACCESS Youth and the Talitha Koum Society
- as of March 31, the closure of the SureStay hotel in Coquitlam, where 30 vulnerable people were living (but have since been accommodated elsewhere, BC Housing says)
- as of April 15, the end of the winter shelter cycle at Tri-City churches
- as of June 2024, a loss of additional outreach services for Port Moody
To add to the growing problems:
- a new site for the Extreme Weather Response shelter — previously run at the Kyle Centre in Port Moody — has yet to be confirmed
- a recent bid for a drop-in/hub centre, a push by Trinity United Church, Progressive Housing Society, SHARE and others, was turned down
- this month, the co-chairs of the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group will step down from their roles
Public services drain
Last year, Merrill said, Coquitlam Mounties were at 3030 Gordon Ave. nearly 500 times, plus 110 police calls for service at 3020 Gordon Ave. — a city property — while Coquitlam Fire/Rescue responded to 218 incidents at the shelter, mostly to overdoses or drug poisoning.
Coquitlam Public Library, which has its City Centre branch a few blocks north of 3030 Gordon Ave., called emergency responders 22 times last year.
And bylaw staff were also on site daily to respond to encampments on city property, trash build-up around 3030 Gordon Ave. and illegal dumping.
Today, July 12, Aaron Hilgerdenaar, told the Tri-City News that bylaw officers are still on site daily and, three times a week, clean up discarded items from the encampment.
Police also attend Gordon Avenue daily, he said.
📣 SOUND OFF: Have you been impacted by 3030 Gordon Ave. in Coquitlam? Send us your comments for publication: [email protected].
