Addressing Homelessness in Squamish

• There is an urgent need to help Squamish residents experiencing homelessness and we’re grateful to be selected for this provincial program to help meet that need. 
• Housing is a fundamental human right. This program will provide temporary transitional housing with on-site resident supports, and offer a chance for some of our unhoused residents to regain a sense of dignity, safety and belonging as an important step to stabilize their lives. 

• Cooperation among the District and many local partners has been extensive and ongoing to address the complex issues related to mental health, addictions and homelessness. 
• The provincial HEART and HEARTH program is a key contributor to this collective effort, bringing additional and much-needed resources to Squamish. The program brings the province and local government to work together to better support people who are unhoused and sheltering in encampments. 
• To date, the District has actively collaborated with local agencies, Squamish Nation and provincial ministries through regularly scheduled and as-needed meetings on encampment management strategies and the coordination of direct and individualized supports for encampment occupants. 

This program shouldn’t be expected to solve every challenge and unique situation related to those who are experiencing homelessness, however the additional provincial resources will be a significant boost to help many individuals who are in need and able to accept the help.

Homelessness is growing across B.C., particularly in small and mid-sized communities, with provincial data showing a 31% increase between 2020/21 and 2023. The number of people experiencing homelessness in Squamish increased 11% during that same period (from 107 to 119 individuals), and 17% between 2021 and 2025 (from 107 to 125 individuals).

• The number of people experiencing homelessness in Squamish increased 17% between 2021 and 2025 - from 107 to 125 individuals.
  
  • A significant portion of these individuals have strong ties to Squamish with 73% indicating they had been in the community for one year or more, and 50% for five years or more. 
  • Over 50% of respondents indicated the top reason for housing loss was due to not enough income.  
• These statistics highlight an entrenched homeless population in Squamish who are sheltering in encampments. Two main encampments are being closely monitored in Squamish though others are also known. 
• Homelessness isn’t only increasing across British Columbia but is a national crisis. Many mayors are calling on the federal government and their respective provincial governments to increase support to local governments to help address the growing number of unsheltered residents in their communities.   

• The District is working closely with BC Housing and Squamish Helping Hands Society to advance a permanent 60-bed supportive housing project at 39900 Government Road. This helps to develop housing at every level along the housing continuum, from shelter beds to transitional units, to permanent supportive housing, to affordable rental housing with and without supports, and beyond to market housing. 
• The temporary transitional HEARTH housing has the potential to bridge the gap between the urgent housing needs of today and future permanent homes. Some of these housing projects are in the planning stage, others will be under construction within two years, while there is a steady supply of market housing.

The HEART and HEARTH program is guided by a shared commitment by all partners to prioritize the health, physical safety, cultural safety, and dignity of people sheltering outside.  

• HEART – Homeless Encampment Action Response Team
  • Increased coordinated outreach services
• HEARTH - Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing
  • New shelter and housing spaces

The program is administered by the Ministry of Housing, in collaboration with BC Housing. 

BC Housing will establish a working group made up of Ministry of Housing, municipal staff, First Nations, the Health Authority, and non-profit service providers to guide the program implementation. The implementation is community-specific and informed by local partners. The goal of each plan is to support people living outside to move indoors and become connected to the services they need.

Visit the BC Housing project page and FAQ to learn more: www.bchousing.org/squamish-temporary-housing. 

The District is working to identify a suitable site for BC Housing to review and confirm for the temporary HEARTH housing. We are considering both District-owned and non-District-owned sites. If it is a District-owned site, Council would review and approve a lease. If privately-owned, Council may or may not be involved in the lease. In all cases, BC Housing is the lead agency on this project and will be the lease holder.

One of the initial sites being considered was 37956 Loggers Lane (Xwu’nekw Park). This site has now been removed from consideration due to a number of site constraints that emerged through the due diligence process.

• Yes. Site criteria considers three different audiences:
  
  • For BC Housing - Technical criteria such as ease of rapid development, operational considerations, and leasing at a low cost
  • For future residents - suitability with sufficient space for indoor and outdoor amenities, privacy, proximity to transit, shops, and services.
  • For neighbours - community-based considerations outlined below.
• Beyond BC Housing’s technical site selection criteria, there are broader considerations for neighbourhood integration. Thoughtful attention to the existing context surrounding candidate sites will ensure it is successfully integrated into the community. 
• In discussions with BC Housing, Staff are bringing community-based considerations to the site selection process review to inform the joint site selection process. Key considerations include but are not limited to:
  
  • Adjacent uses and intensity of uses/activities (ability to provide buffers and screening between uses/areas).
  • Size that allows for sufficient space for staffing, self-contained outdoor amenity space, landscaping buffers, and staff parking.
  • Transportation considerations (road circulation, traffic volumes and safe access, state of active transportation infrastructure to/from the site, and transit proximity.
  • Impacts on sensitive lands, environmental and cultural/heritage areas.

• Rezoning is not required for any supportive housing project, including this one. The District of Squamish permits supportive and affordable rental housing in residential zones.
• A Development Permit Application to conform with appropriate local guiding policies is still required, as well as a Building Permit to conform with BC Building code. These would be approved at the staff level.

A critical milestone for H&H is to decide on a HEARTH site location in early July 2026. A decision in July would allow BC Housing to focus their due diligence over the summer and to meet their funding deadline of March 2027.

Council will hear a presentation on June 23, 2026 from BC Housing on an overview of the program, success and learnings of HEARTH in other communities, site selection process, and details of community outreach and discussion opportunities. 

• Once we confirm a viable site for this temporary transitional housing project, we will reach out to area neighbours directly with accurate, accessible information.  The project website will also be updated regularly at bchousing.org/squamish-temporary-housing.
• BC Housing and the District of Squamish will arrange opportunities for neighbours and community members to meet with the project team. We welcome questions and discussion about how to best promote successful inclusion of the housing into the community and incorporate feedback where possible. 

BC Housing and its non-profit operator commit to being good neighbours. Temporary transitional housing is staffed 24/7. They share a direct phone number for the site and work to build positive relationships with neighbours. If concerns arise, they work to address them quickly and collaboratively. Learn more in the BC Housing FAQ under Site and Community Safety.