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FROM THE OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
December 9, 2008
Mayor Robertson announces creation of Homeless Emergency Action Team
City of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson announced today the creation of a Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT). The Team will be responsible for providing immediate actions that the City can take to help people off the street and into a safe environment over the next 90 days.
"The Homeless Emergency Action Team will seek out, coordinate, and provide immediate actions that the City can do to get people off the street and indoors," said Mayor Robertson. "Homelessness is the top priority for this council, and we intend to take action on it right away."
HEAT will be chaired by Mayor Robertson, and is composed of representatives from the City and housing stakeholders. The members of HEAT are:
- Mayor Gregor Robertson (Chair)
- Janice Abbott – Executive Director, Atira Women’s Resource Society
- Jim Chu – Chief, Vancouver Police Department
- Dr. Patricia Daly - Chief Medical Officer, Vancouver Coastal Health Authority
- David Eby – Executive Director, BC Civil Liberties Association
- Michael Flanigan – Director of Real Estate Services, City of Vancouver
- Judy Graves – Outreach Coordinator, Housing Department, City of Vancouver
- Cameron Gray, Managing Director, Department of Social Development, City of Vancouver
- Kerry Jang, City Councillor (Council Liason)
- Raymond Louie, City Councillor
- John MacKay – Strand Development Corporation, Board member of Street To Home Foundation
- Shayne Ramsay, CEO, BC Housing
- Patrick Stewart, Chair, Aboriginal Homelessness Steering Committee
The Team will report to council every 30 days, for the next three months, with priority action items to get homeless people off the street and into shelters and temporary housing.
"The HEAT reflects the need to have different sectors working together to help solve homelessness," said Robertson. "We've got a great mix of professionals on board, and I am grateful that they are putting their efforts towards getting people off the street."
"This Team will be identifying locations for immediate shelters, working to fast-track developments, and coordinating across different sectors - and I believe that this will help us take serious steps in getting people quickly off the street so that they have a roof over their head this winter."
For more information:
Kevin Quinlan
Executive Assistant to the Mayor
778.995.2264
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