Recent incidents of people sheltering in Langford parks and new information suggesting the city needs 116 housing units in the next five years for B次元官网网址榩ersons experiencing homelessnessB次元官网网址�, has caused a handful of locals to speak up in concern.

At a council meeting on Oct. 7, residents appealed to the city to be B次元官网网址渂oldB次元官网网址� and find a housing solution suitable for people who are B次元官网网址渆conomically homelessB次元官网网址�, while pressing the province to build separate facilities for people living with serious mental health disorders and addictions.

B次元官网网址淭he homeless issue is provincial, which has been foist upon municipal governments everywhere,B次元官网网址� said one resident.

B次元官网网址淧eople with addictions and mental health problems need to be treated, not municipally but provincially, in provincial facilities that need to be built,B次元官网网址� they added.

Referencing the Sept. 25 incident at Aurora, the supportive housing building in Central Saanich, which involved a person with a firearm, another resident raised concerns about the safety of these types of housing solutions.

B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 want that in Langford,B次元官网网址� they said after earlier urging councillors to not B次元官网网址渇ollow suitB次元官网网址� and be the leader in finding its own solution to support homeless people. B次元官网网址淲e want something new, something thatB次元官网网址檚 going to be great for everybody whoB次元官网网址檚 facing homelessness.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 hope your intentions are not to repeat these mistakes and put families, seniors and businesses in danger B次元官网网址� in our own homes and neighbourhoods,B次元官网网址� added another local.

Sheltering in Veterans Memorial Park and Danbrook Park in recent weeks was also flagged at the meeting.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 very discouraging to see them there all day,B次元官网网址� said a Massie Drive resident. B次元官网网址淪omething has to be done with them. I donB次元官网网址檛 care what it is. I just donB次元官网网址檛 want it in front of my face, constantly."

Another local resident described upset in the community about open drug use in front of local businesses.

B次元官网网址淭he hardest working, most honourable people are being victimized by this,B次元官网网址� they said, urging the city again to lobby the province to find a solution to the ongoing issue.

The locals were responding to new information shared in LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Interim Housing Needs Report, completed under the direction of the province.

According to the report, Langford needs a total of 5,081 housing units in the next five years; and a total of 16,942 units in the next 20 years.

The total number of units is broken down into categories, including B次元官网网址榩ersons experiencing homelessnessB次元官网网址�, which has a target of 116.21 units in the next five years, and a total of 232.41 units in the next 20 years.

LangfordB次元官网网址檚 housing need has been calculated based on a method prescribed by the province, using specific sources of publicly available data, said a city spokesperson.

B次元官网网址淭he purpose of these calculations is to provide an estimate of the housing that will be needed in the city over these timeframes to address both expected population growth and the demand that currently exists,B次元官网网址� they said.

Local municipalities are not required to ensure the specific categories of housing in the report, including B次元官网网址榚xtreme core housing needB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址榩ersons experiencing homelessnessB次元官网网址�, are built, said the city spokesperson.

B次元官网网址淏ut [they] are required to adjust their official community plans and zoning bylaws to ensure the overall 20-year housing need noted is accommodated through their policies and regulations,B次元官网网址� they added.