Homelessness
Homelessness Action Strategy and Needs Assessment
Much like other municipalities in Metro Vancouver, New Westminster experienced a 35% increase in homelessness between the regional counts conducted from 2005 to 2008.
The City of New Westminster and BC Housing and direct service providers to the homeless have collaborated on a number of housing initiatives to better serve the homeless population in New Westminster, addressing business and resident concerns regarding homelessness and its associated impacts.
Emphasizing longer-term transitional and permanent supportive housing, these initiatives create a housing continuum which enables the homeless to achieve independence and self-sufficiency.
Project Update July 2022
On July 11, 2022, City staff and Community Action Network Leaders presented the Homelessness Action Strategy to Mayor and Council for their endorsement in principle. After having actively reviewed and incorporated input from all of the engagement activities summarized in the Engagement Summary Report, the final Homelessness Action Strategy outlines 46 actions grouped into five themes.
You can read the City of New Westminster Homelessness Action Strategy and click here to watch a recording of the presentation to Council.
Next steps include establishing an implementation working group for the strategy, and developing an Action Plan for 2023. Annual monitoring and reporting of progress on implementing the strategy actions are also planned.