A 10-year battle to provide safe and secure shelter for homeless people in the Tri-Cities is nearing an end with the first people moving into the shelter and transition housing project at 3030 Gordon Ave. in Coquitlam.
It's amazing now to see a facility that was once only a glimmer of hope in the eyes of advocates and outreach workers now a bricks-and-mortar building with facilities and programs to give dignity and support to those who need it.
But 3030 Gordon is not the final word in providing a range of housing and supports for those who are homeless or precariously housed. Without more attention to affordable housing in the Tri-Cities, more people will become at risk of homelessness.
However, those are problems for tomorrow. Today, it's time to celebrate and congratulate those who have taken a leadership role in advancing the cause.
While other municipalities wait for senior levels of government to do something, Coquitlam city council, its staff and members of the Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group took action. Together with the Port Moody and Port Coquitlam city councils, these organizations stepped up to the plate to start a temporary church mat program that wasn't immediately supported by neighbours.
It turned out that sheltering the homeless didn't increase crime and could actually reduce it if folks using the shelter had support, such as that offered by Hope for Freedom Society, and Tri-Cities Mental Health, to deal with their mental health and addiction issues through access to programs and stable housing.
While some homeowners and businesses have been skeptical of the new permanent shelter making a positive difference, RainCity Housing has been making inroads in getting support with its community advisory committee, open communication with residents and the RCMP and taking part in the homelessness task group.
But it's the city of Coquitlam, in particular, that deserves kudos for identifying a piece of land that could be used for a permanent shelter, leveraging a relatively small asset valued at under $500,000 into a $13-million facility, paid for by the B.C. and federal governments under the Canada-B.C. agreement for Investment in Affordable Housing.
While other municipalities struggle with their homeless population — ending up in the news for trying to get rid of homeless camps — Coquitlam took a leadership role in taking care of the Tri-Cities vulnerable population.
The value of that contribution is priceless.
