The Government of British Columbia, BC Housing and the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation intend to seek an injunction to ensure construction of temporary modular housing can begin for people who are homeless in Maple Ridge.

A group of protesters who oppose the project has set up a camp at 22534, 22548 and 22566 Royal Cres., a Crown-owned property scheduled for construction of temporary supportive housing for people currently living at the Anita Place homeless camp, and other Maple Ridge residents who are experiencing homelessness.

The injunction application comes after protesters ignored trespass notices and remained on site.

“This protest threatens to delay homes for vulnerable people with an urgent need for housing and support to stabilize and move on,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We have to get moving on site preparation and construction, to ensure we can move people indoors before next winter.”

BC Housing has hosted three public information sessions since January 2017, two of them specifically focused on the Royal Crescent site. It presented to city council on multiple occasions on the growing issue of homelessness in Maple Ridge and potential solutions. Over 1,400 community members attended the information sessions, where they had the opportunity to view proposed housing plans, and speak with representatives from BC Housing, Fraser Health and the local intensive case management team.

The Province and BC Housing have been clear there will be additional consultation with the City of Maple Ridge and residents regarding permanent use of the site. In the interim, approximately 55 units of modular housing will be placed on the site for up to three years. This project is part of the Building BC: Rapid Response to Homelessness program that is seeing success in other B.C. communities, including the City of Vancouver.

Coast Mental Health will manage the property, operations, and assess all potential tenants to ensure the appropriate on-site support services are available.

With no further delay, the Royal Crescent facility is expected to be ready to welcome residents by fall 2018.

Quick Facts:

• Coast Mental Health operations of the modular housing complex will include daily meal services, providing access to mental-health and addictions treatment and life-skills programming, and participation in a community advisory committee of community members and representatives from the municipality, local health authority and BC Housing.
• In the last Metro Vancouver homeless count looking at Ridge Meadows, which encompasses Maple Ridge, 124 homeless people were counted — an increase of 48% since 2014.
• Of the people who were identified as homeless, 60% have lived in the area for 10 years or more.