While residents in a north 91大黄鸭 neighbourhood grapple with the announcement of temporary, transitional housing in their midst, the crown corporation responsible for the project says it prioritizes being good neighbours and keeping lines of communication open. 

BC Housing will oversee the development at 3199 Appaloosa Road, owned by the city and leased to the province, and will hire a social service agency to operate the facility. It will provide up to 60 tiny homes for use by people experiencing homelessness.

However, several area residents have told Black Press Media that they learned about the project in local media reports after it was announced on Aug. 26. Neighbours said they started receiving notification letters from BC Housing the next day. 

鈥淥n August 27, BC Housing sent a letter to neighbours with information about the project on Appaloosa Rd,鈥� reads a BC Housing statement sent to Black Press Media. Residents can also find information and ask questions on and through the . 

BC Housing will also be hosting information sessions, where people can provide feedback, in 2025 according to the statement. No specific dates were provided. Construction at the Appaloosa Rd. site is expected to begin immediately with a scheduled opening for January next year. 

The statement also cites a commitment to providing multiple avenues to learn about project details and ask questions, as well as mailing neighbour update letters at key project milestones.

The temporary housing units will provide residents with access to services and integrated health supports, and people moving into the units will be selected through a coordinated access and assessment process.

鈥淗ousing is needed to provide an opportunity for stability, recovery and connection to help get people off the streets, out of encampments, and indoors,鈥� BC Housing says.

Area resident Kelsey McCallen said dozens of neighbours have reached out to BC Housing without any response and were told requests for in-person meetings are not accepted.  

"We would love a meeting with BC Housing to discuss our concerns and how we move forward together as a community.  To be clear, our neighbourhood would welcome a supportive housing facility that is not a 'wet' facility," she said. 

Neighbours who want to be notified about scheduled information sessions can email communityrelations@bchousing.org.

**Editor's note: This story has been updated to include a response from area neighbours to comments by BC Housing.