Mayors of Vancouver and Victoria endorse federal $11.2 billion homelessness plan
Federal housing minister Gregor Robertson announced an $11.2 billion four-year program to end homelessness within a decade, receiving support from the mayors of Vancouver and Victoria.
The Liberal government’s budget, presented on Thursday, earmarks $11.2 billion over four years for a national strategy aimed at ending homelessness within ten years. The plan focuses on prevention, rent-assist for low-income households, expanded mental-health and addiction services, and new supportive-housing projects, including provisions for veterans.
Federal housing minister Gregor Robertson, who served as Vancouver’s mayor in 2008, said the earlier effort failed because of insufficient coordination and funding from provincial and federal authorities. "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 corresponding 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 for alignment with the federal homelessness initiative.