Statement on Councillor Minhas’ Comments on the Purpose Nightly Shelter

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Re: Criticism levelled by New Westminster City Councilor Minhas regarding the Purpose Nightly Shelter and the misconceptions these comments perpetuate about homelessness and meaningful solutions to address it.

Recent criticism on the part of councilor Paul Minhas of the Purpose Nightly Shelter in New Westminster, in which he questioned the installation of a fence at the shelter, and more broadly criticized efforts to address the needs of the unhoused population in the city, reinforce dangerous and inaccurate misconceptions about homelessness. The fence in question was installed as way to keep residents and staff at the shelter safe from predatory behaviour targeting the unhoused population, and was designed to support the well-being of the residents using this shelter, not to stigmatize them. The Lower Mainland Purpose Society manages this shelter, and provides many other services to address the needs of the unhoused population in this city and the toxic drug crisis. Their commitment to doing this difficult work, much like the work of other non-profits in the city, not only addresses the needs of the unhoused population, but also contributes to the safety and well-being of all residents of New Westminster.

That said, there is much more work to be done. The ever-worsening housing crisis, combined with an ever more toxic drug supply, make this work as challenging as ever. The answer to these problems is not to challenge and ridicule the dedicated people working hard to address these concerns. Rather, we should be focused on empowering these organizations with the resources they need to expand and enhance their work, and thereby to better address the needs of our most vulnerable community members.

Recent efforts to expand outreach to unhoused communities on the part of the City of New Westminster, as part of a new crisis response project, and their efforts to expand access to accessible housing options in the city, are commendable. However, we challenge the city, and indeed all levels of government, to take more bold action to address the needs of the unhoused population in this city and across the lower mainland.

One short term option for what could be done include steps like making the Purpose Nightly Shelter 24/7, so that residents are not forced to leave the shelter during the day, thereby decreasing the likelihood of negative encounters with community members and local businesses when residents lack a place to go. Another short term action could be the establishment of a resource centre to connect unhoused people with service and support.

Longer term options could include a meaningful investment in accessible and supported housing options for people in the city and expanded access to flexible substance use and mental health treatment options. The government could also further expand access to harm reduction and a safer supply of drugs, rather than leaving people to rely on a toxic drug supply while subsidizing organized crime, who profit from providing people with this supply.

The answer to making our community a safer place is not to pull back on services and to stigmatize and misrepresent unhoused people, it is to redouble our efforts, to be more innovative and bold, and to be led by compassion and a commitment to doing what works, rather than politically expedient rhetoric that does nothing to address the underlying issues facing our city.