The City of Langley is concerned over the growing number of persons experiencing homelessness in the City. In response to this concern, the City of Langley formed the Langley Homelessness Task Force (LHTF) to help identify community-based solutions to address homelessness. Specifically, the Task Force spearheaded a process that lead to the creation of a Homelessness Strategic Plan (HSP) grounded in the Langley context. The LHTF was comprised of local service providers, businesses, BC Housing, Fraser Health, the RCMP, various municipal departments, City Councillors, and one Councillor representing the Township of Langley. The City of Langley engaged CitySpaces Consulting to facilitate and undertake the process of preparing the HSP and related materials.
The Challenge:
The number of persons experiencing homelessness in Langley has significantly increased in the last decade.
By the numbers (2014):
- There are 92 persons experiencing homelessness in Langley
- 22% of persons experiencing homelessness in Langley are youth
- Seniors represent 15% of persons experiencing homelessness in Langley
- 16% of persons experiencing homelessness in Langley are Aboriginal
While circumstances vary, all persons experiencing homelessness are in crisis and require support to find adequate and affordable housing and to access the services they need. Supporting our most vulnerable residents requires a plan.
As a response to the challenge, the City of Langley formed the Langley Homelessness Task Force to help identify community-based solutions to address and prevent homelessness. Specifically, the task force spearheaded the process that led to the creation of a Homelessness Strategic Plan.
The Task Force:
The Langley Homelessness Task Force was comprised of local service providers, BC Housing, Fraser Health, the RCMP, various municipal departments, Langley City Councillors, and one Township of Langley Councillor.
The Process:
The development of the Homelessness Strategic Plan required research and identification of issues to help better understand the homelessness situation in the City of Langley. This process involved:
- Preparation of a Social Services Inventory: A reference document that outlines the services available to persons experiencing homelessness, as well as services available to vulnerable and at-risk populations.
- Preparation of a Context Brief: A research document providing baseline indicators of homelessness in Langley.
- Consultation with stakeholders. The consultation was delivered in a workshop format to generate strategies and solutions to address and prevent homelessness, grounded in the Langley context. Resources that came out from the consultation process:
- A select number of interviews with persons with lived experience: The interviews provide insight into immediate needs and solutions from an experiential perspective. Participants were anonymous and the stories they shared were referenced when developing strategies to address and prevent homelessness in Langley.
- Preparation of the Homelessness Strategic Plan: A document outlining strategies and solutions to address and prevent homelessness in Langley. The final document was adopted by Council in 2016.