Abbotsford – Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deliver new supportive housing

BC Housing and the City of Abbotsford are working together to address the homelessness crisis in the City by providing support for those who are unhoused.

BC Housing and the City of Abbotsford have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which commits to housing solutions in Abbotsford. These commitments include:

• BC Housing undertaking a rezoning process for the properties located at 1640 and 1670 Riverside Road, which is the existing location of the Cole Starnes facility and the temporary shelter building.
• The new supportive will create approximately 40-50 new supportive homes for Abbotsford.
• BC Housing and the City is working to move the 40-bed temporary shelter building, currently located at the Riverside site, to another location in Abbotsford. A location is still being identified.
• BC Housing installed a sanitation trailer, which includes washrooms and showers, at the supportive housing site near the current Riverside/Lonzo Road encampment to support people sheltering outside over the winter. It is being operated by Lookout.

BC Housing also remains committed to rezoning the Red Lion Inn and Suites. The Red Lion was purchased in June 2021. It is currently providing temporary urgent shelter and will be rezoned later in 2022 to supportive housing. Lookout has been operating the shelter since it opened in June 2021.

This housing is needed to ensure some of Abbotsford’s most vulnerable people can access a basic and fundamental human right: housing. This partnership between the City and BC Housing is a commitment to act on housing needs in Abbotsford. Information can be found on the project page below.