“It’s been a long time coming,” said Abbotsford mayor Henry Braun, in response to the province renewing its commitment to funding the construction and operations of a new 20-unit building for men who are homeless or at-risk.
“We stumbled a few times but we’re here and we’re going to help some people on the streets.”
In the early fall, the city approved the rezoning of properties on Gladys Avenue in Abbotsford and now, the B.C. government has agreed to provide the $2.4 million in capital costs, as well as annual operating costs.
The project will be managed by the Abbotsford Community Services.
“This has been a bit of an uphill climb,” said Rod Santiago, executive director, Abbotsford Community Services.
“This hasn’t been one person’s fight, it’s been about all of us getting together and as a community growing up.”
In 2008, the province and City of Abbotsford signed an agreement to build new supportive housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness; which included two developments.
Together, the Christine Lamb Residence and George Schmidt Centre provide a total of 72 units for the homeless.
Getting approval on the location of a third residence proved to be more difficult. In February the City of Abbotsford defeated a rezoning application for a 20-bed supportive housing project for men who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless near their facility on Montvue Avenue. At the time the mayor said in a statement the site was not the right spot for the supportive housing.
Abbotsford has been in the headlines in the past for issues surrounding homelessness. A human rights complaint was launched against the city last year after chicken manure was spread on a homeless camp. Another homeless camp at Jubilee Park was forced to move after the city ordered them out with an injunction.
Construction on the third, and newest, development is expected to begin next fall.
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