BC Housing is moving ahead with important new projects to address homelessness and provide much needed supportive housing in the City of Cranbrook in the coming weeks – something that the city has been advocating for and is excited to see starting to come to fruition.

As announced by the province on February 9, the City of Cranbrook has joined the province as a new Homeless and Encampment Response Team (HEART) and Homeless and Encampment Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) community.

HEART is designed to quickly assess the needs of people sheltering in encampments or in public spaces and to provide rapid access to the support services they need to exit homelessness. HEART is a multidisciplinary team that connects with ministries and local partners to ensure alignment and coordination of encampment response services and engagement with people experiencing homelessness.

In Cranbrook, HEART members will meet regularly to co-ordinate local encampment response and bring people indoors.

The HEARTH program provides emergency temporary housing and sheltering options. This program is intended to move people from homelessness into temporary housing or shelter in preparation to move into affordable rental or supportive housing once it is available. BC Housing and the City have been exploring opportunities for a HEARTH site. Further details will be shared when available.

You can learn more about HEART and HEARTH on the BC Housing website.

Supportive Housing Project

BC Housing has proposed a new supportive housing project in the form of a multi-family residential building.

Located at 217-16th Avenue North (noted on image above), the project would include up to 50 homes for people at risk of homelessness, along with on-site supports, including life skills and employment training and access to health supports.

“We, as a council and a community are grateful to BC Housing for their continued support and for working closely with the City of Cranbrook as we find ways to help manage the issues around homelessness and provide important supports to those who need it,” said Mayor Wayne Price.

“These projects will help fill some of the housing gaps identified in the City of Cranbrook’s Housing Strategyaround transitional and supportive housing.”

In the near future, BC Housing will host an information session to provide more detailed information on these projects.

“Supportive housing is a vital and proven way to help people experiencing homelessness get access to support services,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “Our government is working hard with partners like the City of Cranbrook to help people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness in ways that work for them and the community as a whole.”

For more information you can visit bchousing.org/cranbrook-217-16-avenue-north.

City of Cranbrook

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