Squamish Helping Hands has issued a statement after two recent incidents in the encampment located behind Under One Roof at 37871 3rd Ave.
See the statement below:
“Squamish Helping Hands does not manage the encampment but is working with the Squamish RCMP to address safety for its team, volunteers, and participants given the encampment’s proximity to the organization’s building. The mandate and funding of the organization are dedicated to individuals living in the transitional housing units and people staying in the emergency shelter.
“By nature, encampments are not safe places to live, and the safety of our participants, staff, and volunteers is always our highest priority,” says SHHS executive director Lori Pyne. “Our team provides basic survival supplies, like food, blankets, and clean clothes, to encampment residents to keep people alive, but our resources are being stretched thin as we continue to try to meet the growing need.”
Encampments are caused by many different reasons, including the accelerating cost-of-living, substance use disorders, and the lack of services for individuals experiencing mental health crises or complex diagnoses. A recent Point-in-Time Homeless Count indicated that there were at least 125 unhoused people in Squamish.
“Encampments have become an unfortunate reality in our community, like many others across Canada and the world,” said Pyne. “While we are doing the best with what we have, this is a complex and challenging issue without simple solutions. Any and all plans for new housing to address this issue must be grounded in a deep understanding of the underlying causes of encampments and include community-led solutions to find appropriate and safe locations to be successful.”
