MLA Simons says provincial investment will support people who are unhoused on the Sunshine Coast

SECHELT – New Democrat MLA Nicholas Simons says that people who are unhoused will have more access to support services on the Sunshine Coast as a result of provincial funding.

“The last two years have been increasingly challenging for people who are unhoused, and resources in many communities have been strained,” said Nicholas Simons, MLA for Powell River-Sunshine Coast. “This support will help Sechelt and Gibsons increase their capacity to respond to the impacts of homelessness and help keep people safer and healthier.”

Sechelt is receiving $60,969 to respond to the impacts of homelessness through the project “Arrowhead Pandemic Restart”. This project will allow the Arrowhead Clubhouse to once again open Fridays, expanding hours which were cut back during the pandemic, so they can provide a safe, warm, dry place for unhoused people to go during the day.

Gibsons is receiving $50,000 for the project “Everybody Needs a Home Gibsons”, which will fund a temporary outreach coordinator to connect individuals to services including referrals to supportive housing.

The BC New Democrat government is investing more than $15 million into projects in 44 communities as part of the Strengthening Communities’ Services Program. This funding stream supports local governments and modern Treaty Nations in building additional capacity to address the needs of unsheltered people in their communities, while also keeping people safe and healthy.

The projects will include services such as outreach and mental health supports, creating new temporary shelters for people experiencing homelessness, and expanding shelter availability during potential extreme weather events through the program’s second intake. This investment is in addition to the $76 million provided to local governments and modern Treaty Nations through this program in 2021.

The Strengthening Communities’ Services Program is open to all municipalities, regional districts, Islands Trust and modern Treaty Nations in B.C. It is administered by the Union of British Columbia Municipalities.