The Provincial Government’s support for up to four temporary shelters is good news for Vancouver, says Mayor Gregor Robertson, and will help keep the City’s most vulnerable citizens safe and warm this winter.

“I want to thank Minister Rich Coleman and the BC government for their support,” said Mayor Robertson. “The investment they are making in difficult economic times will make a real difference for people who need it the most.”

Last year, the City partnered with the Province to open four temporary winter shelters, in Mt. Pleasant, Kitsilano, Downtown South, and the West End. The locations for this year’s shelters have not been selected, but could involve the same as last year. All four shelters will close no later than the end of April 2011.

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Mayor Robertson welcomed today’s announcement from Premier Campbell and Minister Rich Coleman of $225 million in new money for social housing in Vancouver, calling it a major step towards achieving the City’s goal of ending street homelessness by 2015.

“This is great news for Vancouver, and is a major step towards our goal of ending street homelessness by 2015,” said Mayor Robertson. “Today’s announcement of $225 million brings the total provincial investment for new social housing in Vancouver to $333 million since December 2008. Our partnership with the provincial government is paying off and delivering real results for the people of Vancouver.”

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“Today’s announcement that the Province will continue to fund three HEAT shelters is great news for the people of Vancouver and especially for our most vulnerable citizens. The HEAT shelters have helped people living on the street find stability in their lives, become part of a community, and gain access to health and social services. It’s crucial that they remain open as we build new social housing in partnership with the Province.

“There is no doubt that the shelters have made a huge difference in Vancouver. We’ve had an almost 50% reduction in street homelessness since 2008. The VPD and DVBIA have seen open drug use and aggressive panhandling decline in the downtown core since the shelters opened. It’s clear that our strategy of moving people from the streets into shelters, and from shelters into interim and permanent housing, is working. We want to end street homelessness by 2015 and these shelters are helping us move closer to that goal.

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