91大黄鸭鈥檚 mayor says steps are being taken to address crime, vandalism and drug dealing in a neighbourhood with a supportive housing building.

Residents living near Stephen Village (2025 Agassiz Road) have provided video to local media and the city and started a petition on change.org asking for changes to the operational model of the facility.

During an announcement with Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon on Aug. 26, Mayor Tom Dyas told reporters after the event that he has been in contact with residents about their concerns and is reviewing the responses. 

Dyas also said he recently participated in an RCMP ride-along and spent time walking through the neighbourhood.

鈥淲e鈥檙e potentially seeing whether there is an opportunity to establish some form of cameras at that location,鈥� the mayor said. 鈥淚 know that there are three individuals within that facility that they鈥檙e hoping to transition out to make the building that much safer.鈥�

However, Dyas noted that under the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA) it can be difficult to remove those individuals without a proper process.

鈥淲e are working as quickly as we can within the confines of what we鈥檙e able to do to make it better for them (neighbours).鈥�

Dyas added another facility on Gordon Drive, near the Capri Mall, is experiencing problems similar to Stephen Village.

鈥淲e are trying to take initiatives to make those areas better, but there are others within our community that are running successfully and not interrupting neighbourhoods.鈥�

When asked about the situation around Stephen Village, Minister Kahlon said it is being looked into.

鈥淚 know BC Housing is working right now on ways to create a better connection with the community to ensure everybody is supported on that particular site.鈥�

Kahlon added there are dozens of supportive housing sites throughout the province that do not have any 鈥渞eal issues.鈥�

鈥淭hey can work in communities, they are working in communities,鈥� he said. 

The Stephen Village petition states that since the facility was built the neighbourhood has been affected in several ways including an increase in vandalism, petty crime, drug dealing activity, and violence. 

There is 鈥渁 greater sense of fear in the community, not feeling comfortable walking down the street, concerns for children playing outside and pets eating discarded drugs.鈥�