Homeless shelter approved for Coquitlam

Coquitlam City Council has voted to approve the city's first permanent homeless shelter after a lengthy public meeting on Monday night, but the project still needs provincial funding to go ahead.

About 60 people turned out to speak at the four-hour long public hearing. Most of the speakers spoke in favour of the shelter, including Wes Crawford who used to live on the streets but now works with the homeless.

"These people that are stuck in the bush. They're shy. They're afraid to be around people, crowds. They need this shelter to have a second chance at life," said Crawford.

But residents like Sandra MacDonald, who lives near the proposed site, expressed concerned about some of the people the shelter might bring into the neighbourhood.

"They've got serious drug and alcohol addictions.  How are they going to pay to support their habits?  They'll be breaking into my car again," said MacDonald.

After hearing from the speakers, the city councillors voted to re-zone the property at 3030 Gordon Avenue and allow the proposal to move to the next stage.

The proposed 38,000 sq. ft., four-storey building would include 30 shelter beds, 30 studio units and emergency cold weather housing, but it now needs provincial funding to go ahead.

In the meantime Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart said he wants to start working with the shelter's critics.

"I want the neighbourhood to realize that those fears were misplaced," said Stewart.