Activists call for more supportive housing in Surrey

Housing advocates in Surrey are calling for urgent solutions to what they say is a growing crisis as their city booms.

Health and housing challenges are increasing at an exponential rate in the communityexplains Upkar Singh Tatlay, director of the Society of Engaged Communities of Canada, based in Surrey.

He believes that rapid intervention is necessary to address this crisis, which particularly affects people in vulnerable situations.

This cry from the heart comes as the mayor of Vancouver announced a halt to the construction of new supportive housing in the neighborhood Downtown Eastside, in Vancouver.

Steven Hall, public relations manager at the addiction treatment center Together We Canconfirms that the situation is critical. The need for supportive housing – subsidized housing for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless – far exceeds the available supply, he said.

Demand is extremely high, whether in Surrey or elsewhere. There are simply not enough places.

He is of the opinion that the majority of the population is blocked in a situation where she does not have access to public funding, but also does not have the means to pay for these services on her own.

A worsening crisis

Surrey currently has over a thousand supportive housing units. However, the number of homeless people in the city has increased by 65% ​​since 2020.

Nearly 400 people currently do not have access to any type of shelter, and the City estimates that more than 2,300 housing units will be needed by 2029 to meet demand.

Surrey City Councilor Linda Annis stresses the importance of providing housing with appropriate support services.

We need to do a much better job of helping these people, but also ensuring that the necessary support services are included to help them get back on their feet she says.

She also emphasizes that each of the municipalities in Metro Vancouver must do their part to meet the housing needs of their residents and respond to this crisis.

Local efforts

While waiting for larger-scale solutions, local initiatives are trying to bridge the gap.

Mr Tatlay is currently working to transform a property into a Community House in Surrey, which he hopes to open in the coming weeks. This center will be used to provide a range of essential services, particularly for people struggling with substance abuse problems or at risk of becoming homeless.

We want this project to be the heart of Surrey, a place that offers integrated services while welcoming the entire community.

As the challenges continue to grow, housing activists are urging governments at all levels to accelerate efforts to support the most vulnerable populations.

With information from Sohrab Sandhu