100 signatures reached
To: Burnaby City Council
Tell Burnaby City Council to Say Yes to Supportive Housing
Say yes to the supportive housing proposal at 5389 Imperial Street!
Why is this important?
Like every other major city in BC, Burnaby is experiencing an affordability and housing crisis.
The good news is that BC Housing, in partnership with the City of Burnaby and Fraser Health, has proposed to build approximately 50 new homes at 5389 Imperial Street in Burnaby.
The bad news is that this project has faced opposition based on a campaign of misinformation. Opponents to housing are creating fear by inventing imagery of "drug dens," being dishonest about what supportive housing is, and making up hateful lies about all low-income people and people who use drugs. Many of those opposing the supportive housing are conservative politicians and in the real estate industry.
The good news is that BC Housing, in partnership with the City of Burnaby and Fraser Health, has proposed to build approximately 50 new homes at 5389 Imperial Street in Burnaby.
The bad news is that this project has faced opposition based on a campaign of misinformation. Opponents to housing are creating fear by inventing imagery of "drug dens," being dishonest about what supportive housing is, and making up hateful lies about all low-income people and people who use drugs. Many of those opposing the supportive housing are conservative politicians and in the real estate industry.
What is Supportive Housing?
Supportive housing provides a home with on-site support so people can keep their housing. Complex Care Housing provides health services for people, like doctors, nurses, counseling, and cultural supports.
Ninety-five percent of people in supportive housing are able to stabilize and build community in their neighbourhood, access their own education and income, and pursue other dreams. Supportive housing reduces harm related to substance use by providing access to medical care and services.
Property values surrounding supportive housing sites typically keep pace. Plus, the cost of providing supportive housing is actually much less than the cost of forcing people to stay unhoused by reducing emergency health care and hospital costs. And dignity is priceless!
We Are Burnaby Residents Who Want Housing for All!
Housing is a human right and a critical stabilizer in every person's life. Supportive housing is urgently needed in our city to keep everyone safe.
Homelessness is not an individual failure, it is a policy choice. A life or death policy choice: the average life expectancy of an unhoused person is BC is half the provincial average at 40-49 years.
We are in a housing crisis and 10-year-long public health emergency of the drug poisoning crisis. Indigenous peoples are most harmed by both these crises. But these crises can be solved! We can have a city where all our neighbours are safe, warm, and have stable housing and healthcare.
Tell Burnaby City Council to say yes to the supportive housing proposal at 5389 Imperial Street!