From Abbotsford Community Services. We would like you to meet Doug. Doug is one of Abbotsford’s homeless men. He has been living ‘outdoors’ in a tent for the last 3 years. Doug already calls downtown Abbotsford his home.
No, he’s not 100% clean. He has Raynaud’s Disease which causes circulatory and nerve damage in his fingers and toes. The daily pain is excruciating at times.
Would Doug move in to the 20 unit ACS Supportive Housing Project proposed for the site on Montvue Avenue adjacent to ACS’s main office?
“Yes, for sure. If we had a place we could all live, we would all look out for each other.”
Over the next few days ACS will add factual information to our website.
Come to the Public Open House on July 25th at ACS from 6-8 PM.
Everyone is welcome.
To find out more about the proposal please keep reading or visit the Abbotsford Community Service website or the new website devoted to the Supportive Housing Project here. Updated information will be added to the site daily.
To email Mayor Banman and Council click here.
Doug (left) with Jesse Wegenast from 5 and 2 Ministries (right)
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What Homelessness In Abbotsford Looks Like
Abbotsford Community Services (ACS), in partnership with BC Housing is proposing to develop a 21-unit apartment building on their property at 2408 Montvue Avenue in Abbotsford, adjacent to the ACS offices. The project will house men who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.
This is the third project in Abbotsford which addresses the issue of homelessness and its impact on the community, with the first being the Christine Lamb Residence on Clearbrook Road and the second being the George Schmidt Centre on King Road.
Some facts about this initiative:
The initiative uses a Housing First model, which contends that until a person’s housing and basic needs are met, they cannot address other issues such as mental health and substance misuse.
This is a supported housing initiative, which means the site will have staffing until 9 PM as well as an on-site caretaker 24/7.
ACS staff will provide additional supportive services including Addictions, Counselling, Advocacy, Employment Services, Life Skills Training, Mentoring and Food Bank Services.
ACS will partner with health and mental health professionals and other community based services to support residents.
The site will be low barrier, which means that residents will not need to be clean and sober to enter the facility, but upon intake, they will be required to enter into an agreement that identifies physical and mental health and substance misuse and a plan to address these issues.
Unlike a temporary emergency shelter bed, this will be someone’s stable home with supportive services on-site.
This site will have:
- No needle exchange
- No illicit substances allowed on premises
- No visitors allowed in the suites
- Secure, fenced in smoking area
- Alcohol consumption will be monitored and restricted
- Inappropriate and disruptive behaviours will be addressed
The proposed collaborative project will house men who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and in doing so will further promote a safe, clean and vibrant neighborhood; one in which everyone wants to live and prosper. Our goal is to house people who are homeless and support their transition in to independent housing.
For more information please view the following documents:
What Homelessness Looks Like
Housing Project Letter to Our Neighbours
Letter of Support (.doc)