The District of Squamish will soon offer new housing options for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness as it becomes one of seven B.C. communities partnering with the Province through expanded encampment response initiatives.
According to the press release, Squamish has joined as a Phase 2 partner in the homeless and encampment response teams (HEART) and homeless and encampment response temporary housing solutions (HEARTH) programs. The District is developing a downtown temporary housing site near drop-in services offered at Under One Roof.
The HEART program works to quickly assess the needs of people in encampments and provide rapid access to support services they need to exit homelessness. The press release noted that the HEARTH program provides emergency housing and sheltering options with immediate coordinated support.
“We are most grateful to be included in the HEART and HEARTH program to meet the urgent need of Squamish residents experiencing homelessness,” said Armand Hurford, mayor of the District of Squamish. “Housing is a fundamental right, and this program offers a chance for our unhoused residents to experience a sense of dignity, safety and belonging as an important step to stabilize their lives.”
The press release noted that these agreements put into action the Province’s commitment to expand the HEART and HEARTH programs as part of the 2025 Co-operation and Responsible Government Accord with the B.C. Green Party caucus. Squamish joins 14 other local governments partnering with the Province on these initiatives.
The work is part of the Province’s Belonging in B.C. plan to help prevent homelessness and bring more people indoors quickly. Since 2017, the Province has more than 95,000 homes delivered or underway in communities throughout B.C.
