The City of Surrey has launched a Homelessness Prevention and Response Plan that provides a "roadmap" to help the city address its problem over the next five years.
After Vancouver, Surrey has the most homelessness in this region with 1,060 people in this situation.
According to a press release issued by the City on Sept. 17, A Pathway to Home sets up a framework centering on for four types of housing including shelter spaces, independent non-market housing, transitional and supportive housing.
Surrey has seen a 163 per cent increase in homelessness since 2014 and a 65 per cent increase in the number of people counted since 2020.
"Based on data from the 2023 Homelessness Count in Greater Vancouver, Surrey will require 2,326 new spaces/units by 2030," the press release states. "In addition to housing, the plan calls for the creation of a coordinated homelessness services system, where people can access the housing, services, and supports they need at the right time."
Mayor Brenda Locke is quoted as saying the city is "underserved" in availability of non-market housing units compared to Metro Vancouver.
“On a per capita basis, Surrey’s non-market housing units represent only one-third of the Metro Vancouver average," Locke noted. "To close that gap, Surrey will need more than 2,300 new shelter spaces and non-market housing units over the next five years. We need increased support from the Province to achieve this target. Surrey cannot be left behind, again. I look forward to working with the Province to address this critical issue.”
The press release indicates that the number of homeless people in this region, including Surrey, has swelled since 2020 with the Greater Vancouver homeless count in 2023 identifying 1,060 homeless people and Surrey recorded a 65 per cent increase over the past three years.
