Burnaby, BC – To achieve the vision of creating a community where homelessness is rare, brief and one time, the City of Burnaby has launched a new task force, bringing together other levels of government, experts and community stakeholders.
“Homelessness is a complex and urgent social issue that requires coordinated efforts from government, community organizations, residents and businesses,” said Mayor Mike Hurley. “We are committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness in Burnaby and this task force represents a tremendous opportunity for us to make concrete progress.”
The Mayor’s Task Force on Unsheltered Community Members held its inaugural meeting on June 9, chaired by Councillor Maita Santiago.
“I look forward to working with the task force as we learn about the needs in Burnaby, the barriers, the best practices and how we can build upon the important work that is already being done in our city,” said Coun. Santiago. “To succeed we need to bring everyone to the table – and that’s exactly what this task force is all about.”
The task force will build on the strategies developed in HOME: Burnaby’s Housing and Homelessness Strategy, which details specific initiatives and actions the City will take over the next 10 years to improve housing opportunities for our community.
The task force includes elected representatives at the provincial and federal level, Fraser Health, BC Housing, Burnaby RCMP, community non-profit societies, the business community, as well as representation from the unsheltered community. Expert consultants will help guide the work and assist in the development of a final report with recommendations to council.
The final report is expected to be delivered to council within six months.
Learn More:
Mayor’s Task Force on Unsheltered Community Members
Media Contact:
Chris Bryan
Manager, Public Affairs
Public Affairs Office
604-570-3616 | [email protected]