The City of Cranbrook is calling on the province for more resources and support after spending nearly $350,000 of municipal funds last year on costs related to homelessness, particularly through staff time, security, and clean-up costs of “hazardous sites.”
In a news release, city council says it is seeking a meeting with cabinet ministers to discuss the rising costs related to homelessness being incurred by the municipality while also finding ways to refine and improve programs and improve services.
The city says it has had to ensure that homeless encampments and sites are “safe, clean and managed,” in spite of limited provincial support and services within the municipality, as added costs are being borne directly by city taxpayers and property owners.
“These services, which are out of traditional scope of any municipality in BC, have come with a financial cost to our municipal property taxpayers,” said Mayor Wayne Price.
City council is hoping to meet with social development minister Shelia Malcolmson as well as housing minister Ravi Kahlon, to discuss the city’s costs to to support issues that are largely under the jurisdiction of the province.
Breaking down the $350,000 cost, much of it relates to staffing costs — $216,000 of which includes staff time from the bylaw department, clean up costs, security and outreach, and supplies such as tents and sleeping bags.
The city also hired on a social development coordinator staff role, which comes at a cost of $98,000, including salary and benefits, training and supplies, cellphone and security.
Other miscellaneous costs that are not fully established include estimations of legal fees at $20,000 as well as radio and computer equipment at $14,000.
While those costs are being borne by local taxpayers, the city did get some assistance from the Regional District of East Kootenay — which itself is funded through property taxes — that provided a $85,000 contribution, with an option to continue that for three years upon an annual review.
The city’s social development coordinator role officially began on May 17, 2023.
Annual salary and benefits is budgeted at $128,400 in 2024.
Last fall, city council passed a resolution to send a bill to the province for costs that the city has incurred, through a resolution that was initiated by Councillor Wes Graham. Graham’s motion noted that the province, through BC Housing, is responsible for providing housing, but Cranbrook and other municipalities, are bearing the brunt of associated and downloaded costs relating to encampments.
Despite submitting those expenses to various provincial ministry staff, cost recovery efforts were unsuccessful.
A key issue is the downloading of costs for issues that are under provincial management, and the corresponding impacts of those downloaded costs to municipal budgets, as cities have limited revenue sources (such as property taxation) amid soaring budgetary pressures.
“Cranbrook is the regional hub of the Kootenays,” said Price. “Vulnerable residents in the region from smaller communities that need supports not found in those communities are moving to Cranbrook to be able to access those services. These newcomers, along with our own residents who are becoming unhoused and needing services continue to grow in numbers.”
“We are hopeful that we can start to have these discussions with the Province soon.”