Maple Ridge may get modular housing for homeless camp residents

B.C.'s housing minister says the province and City of Maple Ridge are close to a solution ona long-standing homeless camp in the city's Town Centre neighbourhood.

The camp, dubbed Anita's Place, was erected on a vacant city lot near the intersection of St. Anne Avenue and 223 Street in the spring to protest the closure of a 40-bed shelter in the city. Ithas remained in place since then.

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But its presence has drawn complaints from neighbours, who say they have concerns about crime, drug use, garbage and human waste.

"We are working together with the city. We are bringing in some considerable resources to make sure they have the supports that they need," Selina Robinson said at a scrum at the Legislature.

"On the modular housing we announced, the 2,000 units, that's the program we're working on with the city to address."

Robinson says discussions between the province and city have been ongoing for weeksand there would be progress on the issue "shortly."

"We're confident that we'll be able to come to a resolution with the city and the residents to make sure people have a dry, safe place to stay as winter comes in."

The issue of homelessness in Maple Ridge has been a divisive one.

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Community groups have organized protests against past efforts to house homeless people which have on some occasions turned confrontational.

Some members of those community groups have said they feel like their concerns about the negative impacts of homelessness on residents and businesses are being ignored.

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A 2016 plan to convert a motel into a low-barrier homeless shelter was scuttled after strongcommunity objections were heard.

Mayor Nicole Read has faced threats to her safety over her efforts to get a shelter built in the town.