New incentives to reduce homelessness in Surrey today made Mayor Dianne Watts, a "happy mayor."
Today, the Ministry of Housing and Social Development announced that $32.9 million would be dedicated to the construction and development of two centres dedicated to people on the verge of homelessness.
Alder Gardens, consisting of 36 self-contained units for pregnant women and women with children facing homelessness and the Creekside Health and Housing Centre, dedicated to addicts facing homelessness, are "in the budget," said Minister Rich Coleman.
"Our goals are to help people move beyond temporary shelters to more secure housing within the communities across B.C.," Coleman told Surrey council members and supporters in front of the unfinished Maxxine Wright Centre of the Atira Women's Resource Society.
"We want housing with support for them, so they can actually change their lives, by not just having a home for them or a place to go, but the supports are there for them too, to deal with mental illness or addictions."
Watts explained that these programs are essential for the making of a strong city.
"We have to have that safety social net in place," Watts said. "We have to have buildings, we have to have programs for our residents that are less fortunate."
"We want to make sure when we build a city and a healthy city that we have these measures in place."
The projects are a collaborative effort, part of a memorandum of understanding the city and province established in 2008 to develop city-owned land.
The minister told reporters that the period of economic hardship was a good time to establish these projects as the low cost of construction may reduce the cost by 30 per cent.
When asked about the Liberal's spending priorities, Watts explained that she would continue to approach their government about issues in the Surrey community.
"It's a tough call to make, all I can do is go forward and say this is what the city of Surrey needs -- we have got the needs in transportation, we have needs in homelessness and housing -- and ask [the provincial government] to step up to the plate."
Morgan J. Modjeski is a reporter for The Hook.
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Bailey
3 years ago
liar
Interesting how interested Mr. Coleman suddenly is in the great world-class shame his government has perpetrated on this province over the last 8 years, just as he approaches an election.
After doing nothing to help and lots to harm the poorest among us year after year.
I'll bet the deal is, 'well, of course, I can only do this AFTER you re-elect us'.
When pigs learn to fly, I think. A textbook definition of cynical manipulation.
This is a man who is quite certain we are just too stupid to even ask why.
Dan the socialist
3 years ago
They had 8 years and did
They had 8 years and did nothing...unfortunately the Social Credit party will be re elected next month..
seth
3 years ago
a half a million each
What are these? Luxury condos?
Why don't they just buy up one of those trailer parks they are always closing down in Surrey and house ten times as many for the same price.
This is what happens when we let useless neocons who couldn't change a tire or balance a checkbook, spend our money.
morechatter
3 years ago
What Can I Say?
Well if Coleman helps Surrey like he has Vancouver's homeless its going to be a major crisis. His organization creates the homeless but sure go ahead Do You Believe the Big Winded Man? Don't stand behind him and don't stand near him if you know what I mean as these guys are full of it and he is the fullest no doubt about it as he axes one Ministry after the other leaving people in very, very bad shape despite advertising saying the contrary.
Next what Campbell's going give him the Ministry of Children so he can really finish them off as he sure doing a pretty good job serving the poorest kids in the neighborhood up garbage for Lunch. I wonder where his favorite place is to do Lunch as its always good to know where your politicians spend their time on your dime Out to Lunch. And what does he do with the leftover well the waiter to wraps them up and now we have kiddy scrapes. See those Liberals are always thinking of ways to make ends meet.