The challenge of homelessness in B.C.含羞草研究社檚 rural areas needs a closer look by the province to avoid a 含羞草研究社渙ne-size-fits-all含羞草研究社� approach.

That was the thinking from FVRD Chair Jason Lum at the UBCM Housing Summit last week, after the new $12 billion Homes for People announcement, that will see new regional response teams to quickly help those experiencing homelessness get housing.

With more than a dozen entrenched encampments in just one FVRD electoral area, the problem has been spreading in the Chilliwack River Valley and other rural areas of the Fraser Valley, he said.

含羞草研究社淚n terms of cost, it can be significant especially for the smaller electoral areas,含羞草研究社� said Lum.

Along with the $12-billion to deliver more housing faster, the provincial government also recently unveiled its 含羞草研究社楤elonging in BC含羞草研究社� plan to prevent and reduce homelessness by adding 3,900 new supportive-housing units and 240 complex-care spaces in B.C.

含羞草研究社楤elonging in BC含羞草研究社� features new 含羞草研究社渕ultidisciplinary regional response teams含羞草研究社� designed to remove encampments and better support the unhoused to move inside with more housing options.

In terms of solutions and what FVRD would like from the province, 含羞草研究社渢he most important thing is to make sure it含羞草研究社檚 not a one-size-fits-all solution,含羞草研究社� Lum said.

For years, most of the homeless camp cleanups have been undertaken by volunteers. Last month the province announced $200,000 to cleanup abandoned camps in the Chilliwack River Valley.

Lum said rural communities and regional district electoral areas are simply not equipped to take on homelessness.

含羞草研究社淲e heard a lot about challenges with homelessness in the larger urban areas,含羞草研究社� he said.

含羞草研究社淏ut the discussion that I think falls between the cracks a little bit is the discussion around what happens in the rural areas, the electoral areas.含羞草研究社�

B.C.含羞草研究社檚 new rapid response teams are being modelled on what they含羞草研究社檙e doing on the ground in big urban centres like Victoria and Seattle.

含羞草研究社淲hat I含羞草研究社檇 like to see is a commitment to work with the rural areas,含羞草研究社� Lum added.

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