People experiencing homelessness in B.C. are often living in unsafe conditions in encampments.
BC Housing is working with many partners to give people living outside better access to supports, new shelters, and housing. These actions are part of the Province’s Belonging in BC Homelessness Plan and include two programs:
- HEART – Homeless Encampment Action Response Team
- HEARTH – Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing
How the program works
The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, in collaboration with BC Housing, works to identify priority communities for the HEART & HEARTH program based on needs and existing resources.
The Province may enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a municipality to implement the program. The MOU commits both governments to work together to better support people who are unsheltered and who may be residing in encampments. This includes increased coordinated outreach services through HEART and working to facilitate new shelter and transitional housing spaces through HEARTH.
BC Housing then works with local partners to establish an Encampment Working Group to guide program implementation and support the development of encampment response plans.
Each working group is community-specific and informed by local partners. Members typically include BC Housing, municipal staff, Indigenous outreach service providers, Community Integration Specialists, health outreach, various local non-profit service providers, by-law and local fire and police/RCMP.
The HEART and HEARTH program is guided by a shared commitment by all partners to prioritize the health, physical/cultural safety and dignity of people sheltering outside and in encampments.
The Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs works with BC Housing to identify which communities should receive HEART and HEARTH support. We look at the community’s needs and what services already exist.
As part of this program, the Province may sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with a municipality. This agreement shows that both governments are committed to working together to support people who are unsheltered or living in encampments. Committed through the MOU:
- HEART increases coordinated outreach services
- HEARTH helps create new shelter and temporary housing spaces
BC Housing works with local partners to create an Encampment Working Group. This group helps guide how the program is delivered and develops local plans to respond to encampments.
Each Encampment Working Group is tailored to the needs of the community. Members often include:
- BC Housing staff
- municipal staff
- Indigenous outreach service providers
- Community Integration Specialists
- health outreach teams
- local non-profit service providers
- bylaw officers
- local fire services
- police or RCMP
All partners involved in HEART and HEARTH share a common goal: to support the health, safety, culture, and dignity of people living outside or in encampments.
Homeless Encampment Action Response Team (HEART)
HEART is a new way to proactively coordinate service providers and outreach teams to support encampment response and respond to homelessness.
HEART members collect and share information about local homelessness; help address the mental health, physical, cultural, and social support needs of people living outdoors; and analyze system gaps and challenges, all with the goal of preventing homelessness and resolving encampments.
The Homeless Encampments and Action Response Teams (HEART) bring together local outreach managers and staff to provide coordinated, day to day homelessness outreach in the community.
Working from the strategies and plans developed by the Encampment Working Group, the team ensures that outreach efforts translate into meaningful relationship building, connection to basic needs resources, and delivery of tangible services for individuals living in encampments and sheltering outdoors.
HEART is responsible for:
- coordinating on the ground services such as:
- outreach
- intake
- comprehensive case planning
- deploying supports including:
- shelter referrals
- safety supplies
- health and harm reduction services
- cultural supports
- facilitating communication among service providers to prevent duplication and ensure a timely response
The team also reports emerging issues and progress back to the Encampment Working Group to support system level adjustments, while managing outreach data and information in alignment with existing contracts, program requirements, and Coordinated Access processes.
HEART is a proactive way for service providers and outreach teams to work together to respond to homelessness and support people living in encampments.
HEART members:
- collect and share information about people experiencing homelessness in the community
- support the mental, physical, cultural, and social needs of people living outdoors
- identify gaps and challenges in the local system
- work to prevent homelessness and help resolve encampments
HEART brings local outreach managers and staff together to provide coordinated, day to day outreach in the community.
The team uses the strategies and plans created by the Encampment Working Group. Their goal is to make sure outreach leads to
- building strong , trusting relationships
- connecting people to basic needs resources
- delivering real, practical support to people living outside
What HEART Is Responsible For
Coordinating on the ground services
- outreach
- intake
- case planning
Providing direct supports
- referrals to shelters
- safety supplies
- health and harm reduction services
- cultural supports
Improving communication
- helping service providers share information
- reducing duplication
- making sure responses are fast and coordinated
Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH)
Along with the coordinated support services provided through HEART teams, it is also critical that additional housing and shelter projects are opened as soon as possible.
HEARTH is a funding program administered by BC Housing that helps advance development and operation of new temporary housing and shelter options.
As outlined in MOUs established with municipal partners, cities agree to bring forward available land and expedite rezoning and permitting approvals for new shelter and temporary housing projects.
In some cases, the Ministry may also approve HEARTH funding for communities that do not have MOUs in order to support temporary housing / shelter projects that align with program objectives.
Along with the outreach and support services provided by HEART teams, it is also important to create new housing and shelter spaces as quickly as possible.
HEARTH is a funding program run by BC Housing. It supports the development and operation of new temporary housing and shelter projects.
Under MOUs (agreements) with municipalities, cities commit to:
- making suitable land available for new projects
- speeding up rezoning and permitting approvals so shelters and temporary housing can open faster
In some cases, the Ministry may approve HEARTH funding even if a community does not have an MOU. This can happen when a proposed project meets the goals of the program and helps create needed temporary housing or shelter.
How communities are prioritized and selected
HEART and HEARTH communities are selected by the Ministry of Housing. When selecting priority communities, several of factors are considered, including:
- Identified need
- Commitment of available land
- Demonstration of community readiness to partner and implement expedited program delivery
Timeline
The HEART and HEARTH programs were first announced in 2023 as part of the Belonging in BC Homelessness Plan. This is the Province’s plan to prevent and reduce homelessness.
In Fall 2023, a Request for Pre-Qualification (RPQ) was posted on BC Bid for experienced non-profit service providers interested and able to rapidly operate new HEARTH shelter and housing.
The HEART and HEARTH programs were first announced in 2023 as part of the Belonging in BC Homelessness Plan. This Provincial plan aims to prevent homelessness and reduce the number of people living without housing.
In Fall 2023, the Province posted a Request for Pre Qualification (RFPQ) on BC Bid. This invited experienced non profit service providers to apply if they were able to quickly operate new HEARTH shelter and temporary housing sites.
There are now 15 local governments partnering with the Province to put in place HEART and/or HEARTH.
- Phase 1 communities include Abbotsford, Campbell River, Chilliwack and Cheam First Nation (HEARTH only), Duncan (HEARTH only), Kamloops, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George, Victoria and Vancouver.
- Phase 2 communities with new partnerships include Cranbrook, New Westminster, Powell River, Smithers and Squamish.
Several HEARTH sites have already opened and others are underway.