Moving on from Marpole: Vancouver begins consultation on two new modular housing projects

The City of Vancouver is starting consultations for two more modular housing sites, even though residents in a south Vancouver neighbourhood protested efforts to build the same type ofhousing there.

In Marpole, one of the areaswhere the modular housingis underway, residents said the the project, which is forhomeless people,is too close to schools.

• B.C. court orders Vancouver protesters to stop blocking modular housing project for homeless

On Tuesday, the B.C. Supreme Courtgranted the city an injunctionand ordered protesters to stop interfering with construction work in Marpole.

The City of Vancouver has said it will address residents' concerns but the project must go forward.

Abi Bond,the city's director of affordable housing projects,is involved withthe implementation of two newmodular housing sites in Strathcona.

An initial consultation and open house was held Thursday evening.

More communication needed

Based on the experience in Marpole, Bond told CBC host ofOn The Coast Stephen Quinn, she thinks better communication with the neighbourhood communities is needed as these temporary housing projects move forward.

"A key part of the process is listening to people, collecting feedback from residents and feeding that into the decision-making process," she said.

At the same time, she added, the city hopes to address some of the stigma surrounding homelessness and focuson the successestemporary housing can have.

"Looking ahead to the next sites, it really makes us think hard about some of the issues facing our city."

"We're in a really urgent situation regarding homelessness in the city," she said.

Bond suggested concerned residents join the community advisory committee to work with the city on the implementation of the modular houses.

Here the full interview below:

With files from On The Coast.