PAC Report-Back: Sept 19 Meeting on Martens Street Supportive Housing Project
Who Was Present
BC Housing: Senior communications staff, senior managers, and project leads
Connective (service provider at the supportive housing site): Directors and managers responsible for program delivery
School District & Board: Board Chair, Vice Chair, Trustees, and Superintendent
ATS: Principal, PAC President, and 1 PAC parent
PAC was invited to the last 30 minutes of the meeting to present parent concerns and ask questions.
PAC Opening Statement
PAC emphasized:
We support supportive housing and recognize the need in our community.
Our concern is the location — less than 60 meters from ATS, a school of 800+ students (Grades 6–12).
Families feel blindsided, with limited, unclear, or late communication.
Parents, staff and community are asking for safety commitments, transparency, and real involvement moving forward.
Key Questions & Responses
1. Location & Alternatives
PAC Question: Are other sites being considered? Why was this site chosen when other potential locations were identified by the City and Province?
BC Housing Response:
This project is temporary housing, not permanent.
Application for this site is already submitted to the City for approval; BC Housing is not considering alternatives at this time.
PAC Concern:
Parents feel the choice of this site shows little regard for student safety.
Alternatives not near schools were available on the MOU, yet BC Housing selected the only location in close proximity to a school — appearing to disregard the safety of children.
Martens Park is Provincial land being provided to BC Housing, yet no response has been given by the Province, Premier David Eby or his office as to why a site near a school was deemed appropriate again appearing to disregard the safety of children.
2. Transparency & Trust
PAC Question: Why wasn’t the Safe Consumption Room disclosed earlier? How will BC Housing rebuild trust after leaving out critical details?
BC Housing Response:
The room is not a public facility, only for residents.
It exists to encourage safe, supervised use instead of people using behind closed doors or outside.
Staff will encourage residents to use the space but cannot prevent use in private rooms.
PAC Concern:
This information surfaced only after being raised publicly, not at the July 14 information session. No response was provided as to why.
This has eroded trust. Parents question: What else has not been disclosed? Again, no response was provided.
Safety concerns remain — supervised use indoors does not guarantee student safety outdoors near the school.
3. Security & Supervision
PAC Question: What concrete safety measures will be in place? How will loitering and school security be addressed?
Connective Response:
The site will be fully fenced.
24/7 staffing, with a minimum of 2 staff on site at all times.
Staff trained in crisis intervention and substance use.
Alarm and security monitoring.
PAC Concern:
2 staff for 42 residents is not adequate. Staff cannot monitor residents both inside and outside while ensuring broader community safety.
No details were provided regarding fence height, number of cameras, or direct emergency contacts for the school.
Parents want guarantees that ATS will not face repeated safety alerts or lockdowns.
4. Communication with Families
PAC Question: How will updates and decisions be shared with PACs, DPAC, and families? How do we avoid fragmented, unclear communication?
BC Housing Response:
Feedback from anyone can be sent to communityrelations@bchousing.org.
A summary report of all feedback will be submitted to the City and posted online.
Another meeting may be considered, but families were also advised to reach out directly to the City.
PAC Concern:
Families are being pushed between organizations (City vs. BC Housing).
A single inclusive meeting with representatives from all stakeholders (City, Province, BC Housing, School Board, District, ATS PAC, and DPAC) is necessary.
Communication so far has been piecemeal and inadequate.
5. Board's Closing Question
“If the City declines the permits, will BC Housing still proceed? There is a Provincial Bill that allows you to bypass the City bylaws, but will BC Housing use it?”
BC Housing Response:
“I don’t think we can comment on that at this time. We don’t have any intention of proceeding under that route, but I cannot comment further at this time.”
PAC Concern:
This response leaves open the possibility that BC Housing and the Province could proceed regardless of the City’s decision, raising serious questions about the Province not caring about local input, accountability and student safety.
PAC Takeaways
Parents are not opposing supportive housing — we oppose the location near ATS.
Transparency remains a major issue: Key details, such as the consumption space, were withheld until raised publicly; families ask what else may be hidden.
Safety assurances are vague: 2 staff for 42 residents is not enough; no specifics provided on fencing or surveillance.
Families are left in the dark: Information is fragmented, with parents forced to chase answers across multiple organizations.
Provincial override remains possible: BC Housing did not rule out proceeding even if the City rejects the permits.
Next Steps
PAC will continue to advocate for student safety as the top priority and asking for the location to be changed.
PAC will push for a joint meeting with City, BC Housing, Province, School Board, District, PAC, and DPAC
PAC will keep parents updated via petition progress and PAC channels.
PAC will continue to raise concerns publicly and through formal feedback channels.
While BC Housing has indicated that they are not currently considering alternative locations to Martens Street, ongoing advocacy may still help shape outcomes at both the City and Provincial levels. We urge all families to sign the petition, share it widely, and add your voices. Together, we can keep pressing the City and Province to put the safety of our kids ahead of everything else.
📌 Petition Link: Sign & Share Here
Please help us by sending emails to the Mayor, Council members and others to share your concerns so they can consider all our feedback before making any decisions. Help us bring awareness for our concerns.
If an exception is made for 1 location, how soon before other schools and playgrounds are put into the same situation either in Abbotsford or other cities..
Contacts
BC Housing general inquiry email
communityrelations@bchousing.org
Minister for Education
Lisa Beare ECC.Minister@gov.bc.ca Lisa.Beare.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Minister for Housing
Christine Boyle HMA.Minister@gov.bc.ca Christine.Boyle.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Minister for Transportation
Mike Farnworth TT.Minister@gov.bc.ca Mike.Farnworth.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Minister for Public Safety and Solicitor General
Nina Krueger PSSG.Minister@gov.bc.ca
Premier
David Eby david.eby.MLA@leg.bc.ca premier@gov.bc.ca
MP - Mission-Matsqui-Abbotsford
Brad Vis brad.vis@parl.gc.ca
MP - Abbotsford, South Langley
Sukhman Gill sukhman.gill@parl.gc.ca
MLA - Langley-Abbotsford
Harman Bhangu Harman.Bhangu.MLA@leg.bc.ca
MLA - Abbotsford West
Korky Neufeld Korky.Neufeld.MLA@leg.bc.ca
MLA - Abbotsford South
Bruce Banman Bruce.Banman.MLA@leg.bc.ca
MLA - Abbotsford-Mission
Reann Gasper Reann.Gasper.MLA@leg.bc.ca
Abbotsford Mayor
Ross Siemens mayorsiemens@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford Councillor
Les Barkman lbarkman@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford Councillor
Kelly Chahal kchahal@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford Councillor
Patricia Driessen pdriessen@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford Councillor
Simon Gibson sgibson@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford Councillor
Dave Loewen dfloewen@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford Councillor
Patricia Ross pross@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford Councillor
Dave Sidhu dsidhu@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford Councillor
Mark Warkentin mawarkentin@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford Council members Group email
councilmembers@abbotsford.ca
Abbotsford School Board Chair
Shirley Wilson shirley.wilson@abbyschools.ca
Abbotsford School Board Vice-Chair
Preet Rai preet.rai@abbyschools.ca
Abbotsford School Board Trustee
Rupi Kanda-Rajwan rupi.kanda-rajwan@abbyschools.ca
Abbotsford School Board Trustee
Stan Petersen stan.petersen@abbyschools.ca
Abbotsford School Board Trustee
Mike Rauch mike.rauch@abbyschools.ca
Abbotsford School Board Trustee
Jared White jared.white@abbyschools.ca
Abbotsford District PAC
dpac.sd34@gmail.com
Prime Minister
Mark Carney mark.carney@parl.gc.ca
Opposition leader
Pierre Poilievre pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca