Opposition to supportive housing mounts at municipalities across Metro Vancouver

CTV News takes a look at two groups that have organized petitions, rallies and protests in response to social housing proposals in the region.

Two community groups are behind growing opposition toward supportive housing projects across Metro Vancouver.

In the last few months, We Vote and the Let’s Vote Association have been active in organizing people against supportive housing, often holding protests at various city halls.

In February, the groups were part of the reason a supportive and complex care housing proposal in Burnaby failed.

Read more: BC Housing abandons Burnaby supportive housing proposal after protests

In a statement to CTV News, the City of Burnaby said there were four protests at city hall in the last few months with an average of 200 to 300 people. We Vote and Lets Vote attended the Feb. 10 and Feb. 24 protests.

Whether they’re impacted directly by those proposals and how they’re addressing them have become points of friction – such as at a recent New Westminster council meeting.

Mayor Patrick Johnstone said a large group of people who weren’t from New Westminster came to the council meeting to discuss supportive housing, but that topic wasn’t on the agenda.

“It caused some people to get very angry and yell out during council meetings,” he said. “It’s clear that disruption was the goal as opposed to a meaningful conversation about housing in the community.”

‘It’s just white noise’

Johnstone said he hadn’t heard about the two groups until a transitional housing proposal came to New Westminster and individuals showed up holding signs.

The signs often depict anti-drug messaging.

Johnstone said he’s frustrated with allegations claiming supportive housing projects are so-called “drug dens.”

“Spreading the same disinformation about a project here as they did in three or four other cities, on completely different projects, that’s not helpful to us understanding our community’s concerns and addressing them,” he said.

“It’s just white noise that confuses the conversation.”

Group created to encourage participation in government

Jolie Trost, the founder of Let’s Vote Association, said she only opposes the “drug-use supportive housing projects.”

She added, “This issue is important to us because what is being imposed on communities is not simply housing. It is often a low-barrier, drug-tolerant model that allows ongoing substance use without requiring recovery, even though many residents are seriously addicted, mentally ill, or both, and need treatment, supervision, and a real path to recovery.”

According to Trost, the group was created in 2018 and claims its goal is to promote public participation in government.

She adds the issues it focuses on range from economic development to drug-related issues.

Trost added Let’s Vote is not a political party, and that it is a registered non-profit, but its Facebook page describes it as a political organization.

CTV News contacted We Vote but did not receive a response before deadline.

On its website, We Vote also describes itself as “not a political party, advocacy campaign, or protest organization,” although one of the group’s organizers, Wallace Pong, has been seen in photos with a provincial Conservative candidate.

On April 1, both Pong and Trost attended a Vancouver city council meeting to speak out against Coun. Rebecca Bligh’s motion to reverse the pause on net new supportive housing.

At the time, the Let’s Vote website listed Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, his entire ABC party and other elected officials on a recent initiative called “Supporters of No Drug-use in BC Housing Projects.”

That post has since been removed.

Read more: Vancouver votes down councillor’s motion to reverse pause on net new supportive housing

Christine Boyle, the Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, said, “People have the right to express their views in public meetings about what’s happening in their neighbourhood.”

She added, “These discussions work best when they are rooted in the local community, respectful, and based on facts. The focus should remain on meeting local housing needs, answering any questions or concerns, and ensuring supportive housing projects are well‑planned, well‑supported, and beneficial to both residents and the broader community.”