Residents of Burnaby gathered Monday in opposition to two supportive housing projects that they say could threaten public safety and neighbourhood stability.

The two projects in question include 50-unit supportive and complex-care homes slated to be built at 5389 Imperial St., and a shelter at 3020 Gilmore Diversion that would specifically support those dealing with substance abuse.

Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs, said in a press release that the supportive housing projects will help to strengthen the community for all those involved.

“People experiencing homelessness and those with complex challenges deserve safe housing with supports to help them stabilize their lives,” she said. “Working with local governments to deliver supportive housing and health supports is how we reduce homelessness and encampments, which we know don’t work for anyone.”

But Jolie Trost, an organizer of the community protests, told 1130 NewsRadio the supportive housing projects are “not a good idea” for Burnaby as they threaten to bring more drugs into the community.

“The residents in Burnaby do not want these two projects,” she said. “Not because they don’t want to care about vulnerable people, but because they think the drug use is hurting people in the housing as well as the neighbourhood.”

The low-barrier shelter proposed for the Gilmore Diversion will allow on-site drug use under a harm reduction approach, but Trost said she believes this model will not help vulnerable people make advancements.

According to Statistics Canada, the rate of drug use is higher amongst those experiencing homelessness than the general population. The 2018 Everyone Counts survey found that over 25 per cent of respondents said substance use was the reason for their most recent housing loss.

With the correlation between the two social issues, Trost said allowing on-site drug use is only “pushing [vulnerable people] to the bottom”.

“We want more healing in that community, we don’t want hurting,” she said.

B.C.’s drug decriminalization pilot ended on Feb. 1. That pilot had allowed adults to legally possess up to 2.5 grams of certain hard drugs. The stated goal was to reduce stigma and barriers to encourage people to seek care.

Public opinion on the effectiveness of the pilot is split, with some saying it met its goal, and others saying it brought drug use out in the open in the community.

Trost said she feels there needs to be more emphasis put on helping vulnerable people seek treatment.

“I truly believe vulnerable people need to be sheltered,” she said. “The concern is about the drug use, it’s not about the housing.”

But B.C. Housing says providing a 24/7 indoor shelter allows those needing support to connect with healthcare and social services all while receiving permanent housing.

– With files from Jonah Jung