The District of Squamish has confirmed that X̱wún̓eḵw Park at 37956 Loggers Lane has been identified as a potential site for temporary modular housing, though no final decision has been made. BC Housing is currently conducting due diligence on the site.
District staff have been working with BC Housing to identify a site for the HEARTH program, which aims to establish rapid, temporary transitional housing and shelter options to help address homelessness and encampments. Site considerations include the cost of a lease, a serviced site for utilities, suitability for immediate construction, and proximity to drop-in services at Under One Roof to ensure continued access to daily supports for those transitioning out of encampments.
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“There are limited suitable sites in the Downtown core and an urgent need to address the existing encampments where public safety concerns for both encampment occupants and neighbouring properties have been identified,” said Steven Hill, media relations for the District of Squamish.
If the site is confirmed, specifics on the number of units, site planning and operations will follow. The District said it will work closely with BC Housing and a designated operator to advance and uphold good neighbour parameters. “The temporary housing site would have staff on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that residents are supported and community concerns can be addressed in a timely manner,” Hill said.
The District noted there are successful HEARTH sites in other B.C. communities. Further details will be made available to the public once a site is confirmed and a housing plan is developed, the district said.
The District is dreaming if they think that this will be a temporary situation. Once the site is filled to capacity further homeless will camp at other locations. “Build it and they will come.” I wonder if anyone has ever attempted a survey of homeless in Squamish. How many of them were born here?
I agree. Ya got your “ help your self hands”. I know personally. More you give the more for the taking. Have to do something tho. All about having the right management. Someone’s that have had real life experience with addiction , and be able to identify abuse/ , specific “ sport” attractant residue from east side., and entrenched in there family.
While there may be disagreements about location, I think most people would agree that everyone should have a safe warm place to sleep and enough food to eat. There will have to be a lot of changes to how things are done worldwide before that is achieved.
Residents of downtown Squamish already deal with open drug use and increased crime. This will only add to that. No modular housing is temporary. It will change the entire neighbourhood.
Yes, the building housing the planning department is a temporary modular building. I think it’s been there for 50 years now.
This location is the worst choice for all but the homeless. The park serves the community and tourism. It serves as a gathering place. Think of those attending the Farmer’s Market every weekend. Would you like to hang out with your kids on a Saturday next to homeless shelters? I live downtown and theft from my building garage is a constant. Think again Squamish.
Bring on the NIMBYs…
All you can do is name call because you know that there’s no argument to be made for that location lol.
I’m with Putin on this.
What on earth is the district thinking. This is an 18 million dollar park, not a trailer park. Nobody will use this. This will tank anyone attached to this project.
Has anyone asked those who need temporary housing how they would feel about being so exposed and out on community display? I can only imagine that dignity is a root issue.
Right next to the new footbridge. I bet all the residents and small business owners are stoked!😂
Why not open treatment and mental health centres and send them there? Why do they get to enjoy and live in one of the most expensive and desirable cities in the world for free, causing grief to tax payers who pay for their housing? Hand them a comfortable, future slum community? You don’t think all the unhoused across canada will make their way to the gravy train land. This problem will grow. Open mental and treatment facilities and stop putting a bandaid on it to enable the problem to get worse. This is ridiculous. Ya put them in view of kids on their way to school great idea. Sure teach them their is an easy way out where others support you. When that gets too bad you can claim mentalling illness and use MAID. Canada has become a woke monster.
Slow down on all the negatives. The status quo has not been working thus far. We need to start somewhere and at least our council is trying to be part of the solution instead of sticking their heads in the sand. Many of ‘those people’ could be any one of us given the ‘right’ circumstances.
I just can’t get over how the “HOMELESS “ are dictating how the people that work have to sacrifice. So we’re going to not only have sirens running down the west side of town to help yourself hands, but we’re going to have sirens running down the east side of town to deal with the B.S. that’s being contemplated on the east side of town. I’m going to throw up! Who are these people that come up with these ideas??? Where do they live? Probably West Vancouver…., or maybe North Vancouver?? Where they don’t put up with this B.S.