So there’s a thread to the response to a thread 🙂. Thanks for all you and colleagues do. Let’s hope more follow suit.

Municipal leaders need to take a look in the mirror and ask themselves what role they play in the problem and the solution. Rejecting housing is hurting the healthcare system. We need an effective strategy that everyone participates in. But we also can’t afford to have Victoria back off.

Is that by rejecting supportive housing and shelters they are ensuring their own citizens have less access to health care, because the situation puts pressure on all existing infrastructure everywhere. So there is a large part of responsibility on the Province on healthcare but

Even when it’s for redevelopment- it prevents us from fully leveraging the investment. And this wouldn’t be an issue if there was stock elsewhere. Today our team went out at 5 am and found someone in medical distress and the best they could do was call 911. What the other municipalities don’t get

Councillor there is no doubt Victoria is doing the lion’s share of the work. Not just in availability of all types of housing of also with innovative programs. As a resident it makes me proud. And it’s also true that every time something shuts down without equal or more permanent units available -

That is a fair assessment… all communities have a role to play. Everyone community has people experiencing homelessness now.

And consider the number of people on the street this winter and it’s ludicrous. I am hopeful our communities can put a stop to this trend. Everyone plays any role. #bcpoli #housing #yyj #nanaimo

A significant investment has been made and we hear there is not much to go around from now on so those temporary sites must be kept open. We need to work together to improve where needed but not give up. The cost to everyone is too high. One site does not seem like a lot but you add up all of them

3)emergency winter shelters should be recognized as essential public safety infrastructure 4) we need a Province-wide transition strategy that ensures temporary #housing leads to permanent homes.

2) that all munis support the creation of supportive housing and in the meantime must not reject lifesaving emergency shelters. Doing so basically ensures our emergency rooms are even more strained and it’s just wrong.

we are seeing when it comes to affordable housing vs supportive #housing and #homelessness infrastructure. SaSSH is calling on the Province and Municipalities to 1) ensure no temporary or transitional site closes without an equivalent or greater number of permanent homes are available

We have come so far with Provincial & municipal investments it would be a shame to fall further behind. The case of Victoria and Nanaimo is concerning because even these #housing leaders are facing the setback of unit loss. Overall, I’ve spoken about the different trajectory

Just Tiny Town, but it has served an important purpose and without it we are struggling to place people in supportive housing bc available stock goes to relocation. And before that it was the sites that are being redeveloped. Nothing should really shut down until there is a permanent alternative

I recognize Victoria is doing a lot to open up positive transfer through the system, like with the future opening of the sober housing site. And closure of any site with the level of need out there - regardless of the reason, is concerning.

Those are my thoughts. Photo credits to Francesca Leonzio and Rhyanna Gathright. Photos show Sara Goldvine, me, Virginia Holden, Rick Illich and Noha Sedki left to right.

I think for both types of #housing, gvt needs to lean in to what works. Keep it simple - housing cant solve ALL the worlds problems at the speed we need housing -& forge ahead. Even w setbacks we are on the right path, though the future can seem precarious. #bcpoli #Canpoli

As existing temporary sites are under threat or direct plans to close take hold across the Province, those floodgates are starting to strain. I hope munis and the Province realize this. It’s even happening in committed cities like #Victoria, #Nanaimo, #Vancouver

There is a lot of problem solving & brain storming ahead for all levels of government & engaging the sector that implements as a true partner is crucial. They know how, I’ve experienced it. Even with things not functioning optimally, we do our best to keep the floodgates shut to much larger problem.

The policy framework is there for a well functioning system: rent supplements, growing affordable housing stock, successful supportive funding models & buildings… it just struggles to come together in effective & consistent execution.