Police and firefighters were called to this Coquitlam shelter over 700 times last year

The City of Coquitlam is reporting increasing concerns astir a supportive housing installation and bum shelter.

The installation astatine 3030 Gordon Ave., operated by RainCity Housing, is nan only imperishable installation successful nan Tri-Cities region serving nan homeless.

The project, which opened successful 2015, is putting a important strain connected metropolis resources, according to nan unit report earlier assembly Monday.

“While 3030 Gordon is recognized arsenic an important assets successful nan community, Council has long-standing concerns astir cognition of nan programme and its effect connected nan surrounding community,” nan study states.

Last twelvemonth alone, nan installation and a shelter encampment that has grown astir it were responsible for 218 calls to occurrence services and astir 500 calls to constabulary for incidents including overdoses, fires and disturbances.

Nearby business owners for illustration Wes Banh, who runs a family automotive shop, said nan spillover impacts person been noticeable.

“Break-ins successful nan shop,” he said. “I’ve had to woody pinch a batch of feces, for illustration a lot.”

“I don’t cognize nan solution to it, but astatine slightest make it look for illustration you want to do something,” he added.

The metropolis has laid retired respective cardinal priorities it wants nan provincial authorities to tackle, including an summation successful work backing to support nan street-entrenched and a caller model and backing for amended shelter and lodging services.

Coquitlam’s wide head of readying and improvement is recommending nan politician constitute to BC Housing and provincial and national ministers to outline nan city’s concerns and costs associated pinch nan 3030 facility.

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It besides recommends nan politician property BC Housing for a advancement study connected implementing recommendations successful a caller operational reappraisal of nan 3030 facility.

Monday’s study notes that nan Tri-Cities are grappling pinch a surge successful thoroughfare homelessness.

According to nan 2023 Metro Vancouver bum count, nan organization saw an 86 per cent summation successful nan unhoused complete 2020, astir triple nan summation seen elsewhere successful nan region.

Macrthy Whyze, who distributes supplies to nan bum successful nan Tri-Cities, said he’s seen nan maturation first-hand.

“People request help. The thief isn’t location yet. And arsenic a result, we’re getting group that are having to slumber outside,” he said.

“They’re section group that galore times person been connected hold lists for long, agelong periods of time. And nan statement and nan clip conscionable seems to support connected growing.”

The study to assembly recommends nan metropolis property nan state for caller commitments connected homelessness, intelligence wellness and constituent usage issues and that nan metropolis telephone for a sub-regional attack to caller supportive lodging and services.

Global News is seeking remark from nan City of Coquitlam and Mayor Richard Stewart.