Vancouver and Victoria mayors back federal $11.2 billion homelessness plan as governments are urged to finally act
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Federal housing minister Gregor Robertson unveiled an $11.2 billion four-year program to try to end homelessness within a decade, with the mayors of Vancouver and Victoria signaling support while stressing that Ottawa, the province and cities must coordinate and fund the effort properly.
The Liberal government’s budget, presented on Thursday, sets aside $11.2 billion over four years for a national strategy intended to end homelessness within ten years. The plan centers on prevention, rent assistance for low-income households, expanded mental-health and addiction services, and new supportive-housing projects, including provisions for veterans — a long-overdue response to a crisis that has been allowed to deepen.
Federal housing minister Gregor Robertson, who served as Vancouver’s mayor in 2008, said the earlier effort fell short because provincial and federal authorities failed to coordinate and fund it adequately. “We did not have the support,” he told reporters in Winnipeg.
Vancouver Mayor Pete Fry said the federal pledge is “aspirational, but very possible” if Ottawa, the province and the city work closely together. He noted that reversing the previous mayor’s freeze on supportive housing would be a critical step.
Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto also expressed confidence that the goal is achievable, citing the city’s Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan as a model for moving people from shelters to independent housing. She said the program will require “hundreds more supportive and below-market units” and matching provincial funding.
Dean Kurpjuweit, president of United Gospel Mission, welcomed the clear timeline in the federal announcement but warned that provincial operating funds will be needed to sustain the new housing units.
The upcoming provincial budget from British Columbia’s new Conservative government will be closely watched to see whether it aligns with the federal homelessness initiative or leaves cities once again to carry the burden alone.