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City pushes province on rising costs from homelessness
Rising costs around homelessness in the City of Cranbrook to municipal taxpayers, and the need for better supports to local service providers and programs by the province, are behind council’s decision to send a letter to the Ministers responsible.
In the letter dated May 1 (see below), to both the Honourable Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and the Hon. Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing, council is pressing for a meeting to discuss the rising costs of homelessness, while finding ways to refine programs and improve support services for those who are living rough.
With limited provincial support and services within the City of Cranbrook, the city has had to ensure that the sites where those living rough are located, are safe, clean, and managed. But this effort is coming at a cost to municipal taxpayers from their home property taxes.
“These services, which are out of traditional scope of any municipality in B.C., have come with a financial cost to our municipal property taxpayers. We are asking the province, and Ministers Malcolmson and Kahlon to meet with us to find ways to better support these individuals, while also discussing the city’s costs,” said Mayor Wayne Price.
In the letter to the province, the city shared that up to December 31, 2023 the municipality has spent nearly $350,000 in related expenses, including staff time, security, and clean-up costs of hazardous sites.
In January, council passed a resolution to send an invoice to the province for costs incurred for managing sites where those living rough are staying. The motion put forward by Coun. Wes Graham highlighted that the province, through BC Housing, is responsible for providing housing, however, municipalities like Cranbrook are incurring downloaded costs to manage and clean up these sites, especially through Bylaw Services, and Fire and Emergency Services.
The expenses were submitted to the various provincial ministry staff but were unsuccessful in receiving any support.
The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM), in September 2023, also passed a resolution asking for the province to compensate local governments that provide emergency medical services through their fire and rescue services.
“Cranbrook is the regional hub of the Kootenays. Vulnerable residents in the region from smaller communities that need supports not found in those communities are moving to Cranbrook to be able to access those services. These newcomers, along with our own residents who are becoming unhoused and needing services continue to grow in numbers,” said Price, adding, “we are hopeful that we can start to have these discussions with the province soon.”
e-KNOW file photo
