13:14, 24/02/14 – Councillors Henry Braun, Patricia Ross, Dave Loewen and Moe Gill spoke to today’s rally for the homeless at Abbotsford City hall expressing the hope that the gathering would prove to be the impetus required for Abbotsford to begin dealing with its homeless crisis.
Elsie Neufeld, who helped organize the event, greeted everyone who had braved the sub zero weather and snowy conditions saying that they represented a large and growing number of Abbotsford citizens who are fed up with the City’s unwillingness to help it’s most marginalized and vulnerable citizens.
The rally, which was organized on Facebook, came as a reaction to the decision by Mayor Bruce Banman to oppose the majority of councillors who voted to approve the $15.4 million 60 year commitment from BC Housing to build a small, low barrier supportive housing project on the edge of downtown Abbotsford.
Though a large majority of attendees at the Feb 3 public hearing supported the proposal, Banman told CBC Radio News the sides were evenly divided and sided with the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADVA) executives which had lobbied hard against helping the homeless in downtown.
12:36, 24/02/14 – Despite the bad weather, the Speaking Up With Abbotsford Homeless rally is being held at City Hall. Three Hundred and Twenty people confirmed on the FB page that they planned to attend.
We will update this story as more photos and information comes in.
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Pictures by Win Wachsmann