The Crises Response Program is funded in part by Health Canada, via the Emergency Treatment Fund. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of Health Canada. The project was approved by New Westminster Council in October 2023, and fully launched in September 2024. This work is meant to address the three interconnected crises of homelessness, mental health, and substance use.
Crises Response Program
While the City of New Westminster has been active in this area--including as part of its Downtown Livability and Homelessness Action Strategies--it's become clear it is not just one of these three crises impacting priority populations, it may be two or three.
Homelessness speaks to a number of gaps, including health care, housing, and income support. Additionally, the ongoing poisoned drug epidemic and the COVID-19 pandemic further aggravated the situation.
Another part of the reason for putting the CRPP together was to address challenges City staff were facing in a bid to find solutions for related situations. The City of New Westminster's response to the three crises and the associated externalities have been above and beyond--for instance, the City's sanitation crews are cleaning up human waste to a degree they haven't before.
By combining this work under one comprehensive strategy, we can address these crises in a meaningful way that takes into consideration everyone impacted.
The Crises Response Program addresses both immediate and long-term impacts related to the three crises of homelessness, mental health and substance use. This includes:
The Community Liaison Officer Program (CLOs) addresses some of the day-to-day concerns, including blocked doors, open burning, or sheltering.
The Homelessness Services Team connects priority populations to resources—including shelter and food.
The Biohazard Removal Program allows Downtown New West businesses to sign up for regular clean-up overseen by the City.
The work is also guided by two plans:
604-527-4502 is the phone number to use to connect with us. It fields requests to the various resources of the Crises Response Program, including the Community Liaison Officer Program (CLOs), the Homelessness Services Team and the Biohazard Removal Team. This number is monitored 24/7.
Responses depend on the availability of City staff and whether they are responding to other requests. We appreciate your patience as our staff work to address your concern.
An independent assessor from Douglas College is responsible for evaluating the pilot. The evaluator from Douglas College presented to Mayor and Council during a workshop in April 2026.
Take a look at the presentation to council. (Note: the presentation starts on p. 36.)
There are not enough 24/7 shelter beds and supportive housing units in the city. If the daytime unhoused population is brought inside, this will significantly reduce the impacts of the three crises on the community, including those related to sheltering, open burning, human waste and discarded belongings.
All municipalities are grappling with the three crises of homelessness, mental health and substance use.
New Westminster experienced a 65% increase in homelessness between 2020 and 2023, while neighbouring municipalities experienced increases ranging from 65% to 91%.
Other municipalities are utilizing a variety of mandates and strategies to address their respective needs related to homelessness, mental health and substance use including Victoria, Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby and others.
We recommend regularly taking a look at our main Crises Response Program page for the most up-to-date information regarding resources.
The City will also be posting related updates on its social media channels, which include Facebook and Instagram. Updates are also shared through our e-newsletters, which you can subscribe to by visiting this page.
Permanent supportive housing is subsidized housing that includes embedded and wrap-around supports for single adults, seniors and people living with disabilities experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.
Support services are offered within the building or by referral from on-site support staff and includes individualized case planning to connect residents to health, mental health, life skills, employment and social supports as needed.
Research has shown overall housing stability for individuals experiencing or who are at-risk of homelessness is significantly improved by permanent supportive housing. This is because residents benefit from the ongoing supports provided to remain housed and improve their overall health and well-being. According to the Elizabeth Fry Society and Lookout Housing and Health Society, 50 to 60% of those currently residing in transitional supportive housing may be unable to transition to independent living in below, or non-market housing. Permanent supportive housing provides access to numerous resources to enable residents to maintain their housing over the long-term.
Reducing homelessness through permanent supportive housing can also reduce the impacts of homelessness on the community. When people experiencing homelessness move into housing, this significantly reduces impacts of the three crises on residents and businesses, included those related to sheltering, open burning, human waste and discarded belongings.
When permanent supportive housing is purpose-designed, such as in the case of Mazarine Lodge and the Rhoda Kaellis Residence in New Westminster, supportive housing can seamlessly fit in the neighbourhoods in which they are located.
The Ten-Year Supportive Housing and Wrap-Around Services Plan calls for an equitable distribution of supportive housing developments across the city and that all neighborhoods will play a role in supporting housing needs.
A selection of project sites should consider access to existing community services for future residents. This includes groceries, health care, pharmacies, support services and public transit.
The 2025 Roadmap focuses mainly on gaps in service for those experiencing the three crises. There is a recognized need for a continuum of health services and supports to address the toxic drug crisis and other substance use harms. This includes accessing harm reduction, detox, treatment and supportive recovery, as well as affordable, stable, secure and supportive housing for those in recovery.
New Westminster is home to a Health Contact Centre, which incorporates an overdose prevention site, drug-checking services and other vital harm reduction services. Also known nationally as the Recovery Capital of Canada, this city is home to a number of substance use treatment and supportive recovery residents. As of 2025, the City is aware of 12 related programs.
While we appreciate the work being done by our provincial and federal partners, the City knows it must take action now.
As we do this work, the City of New Westminster will continue to advocate to senior government to provide resources and services related to housing and support services.
The Crises Response Program, which will be funded and evaluated over two years, is guided by a Five-Year Prevention, Support and Transition Services Plan and a Ten-Year Supportive Housing and Wrap-Around Services Plan.
We invite you to read more about the work and both plans on the Crises Response Program's web page.
The Talking Circle is an initiative under the Crises Response Program. Led by the Homelessness Services team, the goal is to create connections in the community. Talking Circle events are for those who are housing insecure and who self-identify as Indigenous. Participants will have access to an Indigenous elder at these afternoon sessions.
Notice regarding sessions are shared with local not-for-profit and faith-based partners, and also on the City of New Westminster's social media and Citypage newsletter.
If you have feedback about the Crises Response Program, please submit by email to: crisesresponse@newwestcity.ca.