District of North Vancouver council will decide soon on whether to build 65 units of supportive housing on Keith Road for people facing homelessness. The need for these homes is greater than ever.
The 2023 Homelessness Count found 168 people on the North Shore who sleep in shelters or on the street, a 39-per cent increase since 2021. As always with the homeless count, the actual numbers are probably much higher.
Before council makes a decision, they will first hold a public hearing, currently scheduled for Nov. 21. Public hearings for supportive housing are almost always fraught. At this hearing we can either demonstrate our compassion or we can demonstrate our selfishness. We urge our community to show compassion.
None of the social ills associated with homelessness that residents may fret about will be resolved by leaving people on the street. On the contrary, having a warm, dry bed and a place to call home is foundational to anyone seeking health and stability.
For us, it’s not a question of if council should say yes – though we believe they will. It’s a question of how quickly can they facilitate construction. People can’t live in approvals. Two and a half years after council gave their blessing for a similar project for women in Norgate, contractors have yet to break ground.
Even with council’s OK, it will take years to build the Keith Road project, and the people sleeping in parks and cars need these homes yesterday.
What are your thoughts? Send us a letter via email by clicking here or post a comment below.
