'Surrey Strip' tent city residents pack up and leave for new homes

When the sun came up Tuesday, there were nearly 175 people living in tents along along 135A Street the so-called "Surrey Strip"where poverty and homelessness are rampant.

The city expects that number to fall dramatically by the time darkness falls.

Surrey recently received 160 temporary modular homes from the province that are now ready to be lived in.

The units which look like high school portables from the outside have been set up in three locations not far from the strip in the heart of Whalley.

Step inside one of the suites and it's like walking into a university dorm, complete with a private bathroom, mini fridge, microwave and single bed.

Bailey Mumford who manages the homes on behalf of the Lookout Society says the rooms are comfortable but some new residents will still have a tough time transitioning.

"We're expecting there to be a bit of a 'norming' process for people," he said.

"When you move 50 to 60 people into a building, you do have a lot of people normalizing how they live inside."

Goodbye, tent city

Surrey public safety director Terry Waterhouse acknowledges there aren't enough units to house everyone who currently lives in a tent.

Waterhouse is encouraging people who don't have homes to move into to live-in shelters until permanent arrangements can be made.

"We are working with individuals to move them," he said.

"Where there are individuals who need additional support and a little more time spent with them to make sure they're more comfortable, that's what we'll do."

Waterhouse says the city is expecting 250 permanent modular housing suites will arrive soon and eventually replace the current homes.

House rules

Outreach workers have spent the past week helping people organize their belongings into two plastic bins, which is all they're allowed to bring with them into their new homes.

Mumford says the only real rule is residents are expected to be safe neighbours.

"We want people to feel like this is their home," he said.

Drugs aren't banned but users are encouraged to use in a designated area while under supervision.

"If we have somebody who moves in on the first day and on the second day they say they've gotten a job and they're to move somewhere else, that's a success," Mumford said.

"If we have someone who moves in on the first day and stays with us through the whole run, that's OKtoo."

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