NEW housing options for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness will soon be available as the Province partners with seven additional communities through B.C.’s encampment response initiatives.

“Communities are stronger and safer for everyone when we bring people indoors to safe housing, so they have better opportunities to connect to the supports and services they need to bring stability to their lives,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, on Monday. “The Province is encouraged by the increasing number of local governments that are stepping up to collaborate to support vulnerable residents in their communities and end homelessness. The only path forward is to work together and I applaud these community leaders for acting on their vision.”

The Province, through BC Housing, is working with local governments and community partners through homeless and encampment response teams (HEART) helping people sheltering outdoors to move indoors. HEART works to quickly assess the needs of people in encampments and to provide rapid access to the support services they need to exit homelessness. In addition, the homeless and encampment response temporary housing solutions (HEARTH) program provides emergency housing and sheltering options and immediate co-ordinated supports.

A number of B.C. communities are expanding their shelter and supportive housing capacity and joining the growing number of HEART and HEARTH partners with the Province.

• The City of Campbell River is building on its HEARTH partnership and will add eight new temporary supportive housing units at the Homewood site for a total of 48 spaces.
• Cheam First Nation has built on its HEARTH partnership by expanding an existing supportive housing building from eight to 20 beds.
• The City of Cranbrook is joining the Province as a new HEART and HEARTH community. BC Housing and the city will explore opportunities for a HEARTH site.
• The City of New Westminster is joining the Province as a new HEART and HEARTH community. Its 50-bed shelter is being renovated and has expanded operations to 24/7. BC Housing and the city continue to explore additional partnership opportunities under the HEARTH program.
• The City of Powell River has joined the Province as a HEART and HEARTH community. A new 40-bed temporary shelter, opening in March 2026, will double the city’s available shelter capacity.
• The Town of Smithers is joining the Province as a new HEART and HEARTH community. BC Housing and Smithers will explore opportunities for a HEARTH site.
• The District of Squamish is joining the Province as a new HEART and HEARTH community. Squamish is working on a downtown temporary housing site near drop-in services offered at Under One Roof.

These agreements put into action the Province’s commitment to expand the HEART and HEARTH programs as part of the 2025 Co-operation and Responsible Government Accord (CARGA) with the B.C. Green Party caucus.

• There are now 15 local governments partnering with the Province to put in place HEART and/or HEARTH.
• Phase 1 communities include Abbotsford, Campbell River, Chilliwack and Cheam First Nation (HEARTH only), Duncan (HEARTH only), Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George, Victoria and Vancouver.
• Phase 2 communities with new partnerships include Cranbrook, New Westminster, Powell River, Smithers and Squamish.

This work is part of the Province’s Belonging in B.C. plan to help prevent homelessness and bring more people indoors quickly. Since 2017, the Province has more than 95,000 homes delivered or underway in communities throughout B.C. This includes almost 1,050 spaces of temporary housing and shelter in these communities with more underway.

Patrick Johnstone, Mayor of New Westminster, said: “The City of New Westminster is grateful for the funding support provided through the Province’s HEART and HEARTH program, which will support the renovation of the city’s 50-bed shelter and its transition to 24/7 operations, helping ensure people have access to safe, dignified spaces and essential supports when they need them. The city looks forward to continuing to work with BC Housing to explore future partnership opportunities through the HEART and HEARTH program.”

Armand Hurford, Mayor, District of Squamish, said: “We are most grateful to be included in the HEART and HEARTH program to meet the urgent need of Squamish residents experiencing homelessness. Housing is a fundamental right, and this program offers a chance for our unhoused residents to experience a sense of dignity, safety and belonging as an important step to stabilize their lives. Our sincere thanks to the Province of BC for its partnership and support.”