North Shore Homelessness Action Initiative

The North Shore Homelessness Action Initiative (NSHAI) is an assembly of North Shore officials with a mutual commitment to enhancing coordination and action to prevent and alleviate homelessness in our communities. It is a forum for coordination amongst officials and agencies with direct and indirect authority for homelessness actions, supportive policies, funding and capital investments.

Objectives

The objectives of NSHAI are to:

  • Review and consider community needs pertaining to homelessness in close coordination with service providers, relevant community agencies, and First Nations;
  • Inventory opportunities and existing planned actions across jurisdictions on the North Shore;
  • Develop a concise list of priority actions and partner roles in advancing the respective actions, with a focus on identifying opportunities for investments in permanent supportive housing;
  • Explore alternative and coordinated delivery mechanisms for services, supports, and responses to issues, including the potential for a North Shore-wide approach to resourcing recommended initiatives related to homelessness;
  • Produce a Report for the North Shore Councils with the outcomes of the Initiative; and
  • Launch a coordinated and ongoing communications and advocacy strategy outlining key North Shore achievements, challenges, needs, and partner commitments including reporting out on priority actions to the community and other levels of government.

Timing

NSHAI officially launched on March 5, 2021 and completed its work over 18 months. On July 25, 2022 staff presented Council with the North Shore Homelessness Action Initiative Report

Achievements 

Over the 18-month term, the NSHAI have achieved the following:

  • have a shared understanding of the issues, complexities, policy, and housing needs related to homelessness
  • supported commitments to better communication for staff, the public and advocacy efforts
  • developed an inventory of all the work related to homelessness within the five North Shore jurisdictions for staff to use to better support and collaborate with one another
  • created 12 priority actions that focus on opportunities to achieve better data and understanding of community needs, working together, advocacy, improved communications, and more public awareness and dialogue
  • reviewed and considered multiple models and examples of housing and supports and selection of two key paths forward – single point of entry and housing first

Moving Forward

The Steering Committee, which has completed its mandate, remains committed to increasing coordination and supporting initiatives, policies, funding, and capital investments to better support individuals experiencing homelessness and those who are at risk of homelessness. The Working Group has established close working relationships and will continue to meet as needed to support initiatives related to homelessness on the North Shore.

Participants

Steering Committee

The work of the NSHAI was directed by a steering committee comprised of elected and appointed government officials or delegates including:

  • (1) City of North Vancouver Mayor
  • (1) District of North Vancouver Mayor
  • (1) District of West Vancouver Mayor
  • (1) Tsleil-Waututh Nation Council Member
  • (1) Squamish Nation Council Member
  • (1) Vancouver Coastal Health Board Chair
  • (1) BC Housing Board Chair
  • Provincial and Federal elected Members of Parliament and the Legislative Assembly (involved at key intervals to support advocacy and to review findings and investments)

Working Group

A working group, comprised of staff from each jurisdiction, supports the work of the steering committee. The working group includes:

  • City of North Vancouver staff representative(s)
  • District of North Vancouver staff representative(s)
  • District of West Vancouver staff representative(s)
  • Tsleil-Waututh Nation staff representative(s)
  • Squamish Nation staff representative(s)

Partners

A number of partners were identified to support the work of the steering committee and staff working group. They are comprised of key not-for-profit organizations and stakeholders:

  • North Shore Homelessness Task Force
  • Lookout Housing and Health Society
  • North Shore Crisis Services Society
  • Canadian Mental Health Association (North Shore branch)
  • Hiy̓ ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Housing Society
  • Hollyburn Family Services Society
  • Vancouver Coastal Health
  • BC Housing