← Homelessness and supportive housing · All issues

What's happening with the encampment behind Under One Roof and the promised temporary housing?

at 37871 Third Avenue is Squamish's only shelter, and food bank building, run by Squamish Helping Hands. An grew behind it, and in October 2026 the District closed that site for good after a fire. The Province picked Squamish for its HEART and program, which is meant to bring fenced, staffed temporary housing with supports, but no site has been chosen yet.

📍 Downtown

Where it stands step 5 of 7

  1. Province names Squamish a HEART and HEARTH community February 9, 2026
    The Province picked Squamish for outreach teams and temporary housing. [source]
  2. Council asks staff to find a site with BC Housing March 3, 2026
    Council made the decision in a closed meeting on January 20 and announced it March 3. [source]
  3. First site, Loggers Lane park, dropped June 16, 2026
    The site at 37956 Loggers Lane (Xwu'nekw Park) failed due diligence and was removed. [source]
  4. Encampment behind Under One Roof closed October 9, 2026
    After a September 18 fire, the District said people cannot return to the Third Avenue and Main Street site. [source]
  5. Choosing a site for temporary housing
    The District and BC Housing are still weighing sites. If the site is District land, council must approve a lease. [source]
  6. Neighbours told and invited to meet the project team
    BC Housing says it will contact neighbours once a site is confirmed. [source]
  7. Temporary housing opens
    BC Housing's estimate is winter 2027/28. [source]

What happens next: The new council will likely see a temporary housing site come forward, and approve a lease if it is District land; BC Housing has said it needs a site soon to meet a March 2027 funding deadline.

How this council has voted on it

The new council hasn’t voted on this yet. Every vote on it will appear here.

What each of them said during the campaign

“The shelter and its services should be moved out of downtown.”

“The District should clear tent from public spaces, even when there is nowhere else for those people to go.”

“Squamish needs more shelter and supportive-housing spaces, even if they are located near residential areas.”

“When public safety downtown and services for homeless people pull in different directions, safety should come first.”

“Supportive and low-income housing should be spread across all neighbourhoods rather than concentrated downtown.”

“The District should put more bylaw enforcement officers downtown.”

Earlier history (before this council)
  • October 9, 2026: The District permanently closed the site behind after a fire; some residents moved to Vancouver Street and Loggers Lane. This was a staff decision, not a council vote. [source]
  • September 18, 2026: A fire with propane tank ignitions broke out at the while people were being moved out for a cleanup. No one was hurt. [source]
  • August 31, 2026: The District announced more downtown patrols and a new Director of Public Safety. Council did not vote on it. [source]
  • June 23, 2026: BC Housing presented the HEART and program to council at a council workshop (Committee of the Whole). [source]
  • June 16, 2026: Council announced it had removed the Loggers Lane park (Xwu'nekw Park) site from consideration, a decision made in a closed meeting on June 9. [source]
  • March 3, 2026: Council announced it had endorsed the HEART and designation and told staff to find a site with BC Housing. [source]
  • July 15, 2025: Council received a staff update on . [source]
  • October 15, 2024: Council adopted a property tax exemption for Squamish Helping Hands at . [source]

Have your say

The swearing in meeting is ceremonial. There is no question period and no letters on the agenda. To raise something with the new council, write to council@squamish.ca after November 3. Letters sent before then go to the outgoing council.

Watch. Live and afterward on the District’s YouTube channel.