We are a group of Child and Youth Care students at the University of the Fraser Valley who are raising awareness about a housing project, Abby Digs, that aims to provide barrier free housing to homeless individuals in Abbotsford, BC.
Homelessness in Abbotsford, BC is a growing issue and the Abbotsford Dignitarian Society wants you to consider adorable tiny houses as the solution!
Although the City of Abbotsford would like to think of itself as a city where everyone has a place to call home, finding a home if you are below the poverty line, have a mental or physical disability, substance or alcohol dependency or are unable to work is almost impossible. There is a severe lack of affordable housing and in most instances landlords are reluctant to rent to welfare recipients. The Abbotsford Dignitarian society, a non-profit, non-partisan, secular group, is proposing a pilot housing project, “Abby Digs”. Named by the homeless individuals in Abbotsford right now, Abby Digs is set to provide barrier free stable housing to those who are homeless and are capable and willing to participate as contributing members in an organized community setting. The housing will be set up as a small village with 10 aesthetically pleasing, insulated micro cabins to start. Each 8ft by 10ft cabin will be fitted with heat and electricity, while a larger building will house shared accommodations like bathrooms, showers, kitchen and laundry facilities. There will also be a building devoted to providing resources and support.
While Abby Digs may be the first of it’s kind in Canada, it is not the first of it’s kind ever to be built and executed. The Society researched micro-housing communities in North America such as Opportunity Village in Eugene, Oregon and Quixote Village in Olympia, Washington and found that these communities have been successful in providing both transitional and affordable long-term housing, without public funding. Each of these villages house homeless individuals from that community with excellent success. The City has proposed a “housing first approach” to alleviate homelessness in Abbotsford, The Abbotsford Dignitarian Society believes that Abby Digs could be the solution they have been looking for. With the Abbotsford Dignitarian Society still looking for their project to be approved by the City Council, this petition is an opportunity to have your voice heard. This petition not only raises awareness about the issue of homelessness in Abbotsford, but is also a way of solidifying the public’s support of Abby Digs.
If you would like more information, you can check out their webpage:
http://www.abbotsfordhomeless.com/abby-digs/
You can see more pictures, follow our progress and like our facebook page here:
Updates
February 24, 2016
The stories coming in from people living on our streets prove that this project is a necessity. Email your local city council representative right now and demand they review the proposal for these tiny homes. Post this link to your own Facebook page to ensure the city hears us.
February 24, 2016
The momentum behind the Abby Digs proposal proves our community is ready for real housing solutions. Post our link on your Facebook page and email your city representative today to demand they approve this pilot project.
Reached 100 supporters
February 24, 2016
58 Comments
I support this. Housing first is a proven method for assisting marginalized people recover.
Please make this happen! It's been done before and elsewhere, and Abby Digs has done their homework to make this a success.
This is something that can give people a hand-up rather than a hand out. Stable housing and showers is a hug step in the right direction for people wanting to enter back into society fro whatever walk of life they had been on.
It'll be such a great community project. We've even talked with high schools to see if their teens would like to experience! There is so much potential to bring us all together
I'd like to see the tiny homes just a bit bigger. Love the idea. I can imagine church groups and community groups building homes for the Abby Digs neighbourhood. Many people in Abby want to do something but don't know what to do.
This is such a good and sensible idea,
Willing to work if this goes through
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We are a group of Child and Youth Care students at the University of the Fraser Valley who are raising awareness about a housing project, Abby Digs, that aims to provide barrier free housing to homeless individuals in Abbotsford, BC.
Homelessness in Abbotsford, BC is a growing issue and the Abbotsford Dignitarian Society wants you to consider adorable tiny houses as the solution!
Although the City of Abbotsford would like to think of itself as a city where everyone has a place to call home, finding a home if you are below the poverty line, have a mental or physical disability, substance or alcohol dependency or are unable to work is almost impossible. There is a severe lack of affordable housing and in most instances landlords are reluctant to rent to welfare recipients. The Abbotsford Dignitarian society, a non-profit, non-partisan, secular group, is proposing a pilot housing project, “Abby Digs”. Named by the homeless individuals in Abbotsford right now, Abby Digs is set to provide barrier free stable housing to those who are homeless and are capable and willing to participate as contributing members in an organized community setting. The housing will be set up as a small village with 10 aesthetically pleasing, insulated micro cabins to start. Each 8ft by 10ft cabin will be fitted with heat and electricity, while a larger building will house shared accommodations like bathrooms, showers, kitchen and laundry facilities. There will also be a building devoted to providing resources and support.
While Abby Digs may be the first of it’s kind in Canada, it is not the first of it’s kind ever to be built and executed. The Society researched micro-housing communities in North America such as Opportunity Village in Eugene, Oregon and Quixote Village in Olympia, Washington and found that these communities have been successful in providing both transitional and affordable long-term housing, without public funding. Each of these villages house homeless individuals from that community with excellent success. The City has proposed a “housing first approach” to alleviate homelessness in Abbotsford, The Abbotsford Dignitarian Society believes that Abby Digs could be the solution they have been looking for. With the Abbotsford Dignitarian Society still looking for their project to be approved by the City Council, this petition is an opportunity to have your voice heard. This petition not only raises awareness about the issue of homelessness in Abbotsford, but is also a way of solidifying the public’s support of Abby Digs.
If you would like more information, you can check out their webpage:
http://www.abbotsfordhomeless.com/abby-digs/
You can see more pictures, follow our progress and like our facebook page here:
Updates
February 24, 2016
The stories coming in from people living on our streets prove that this project is a necessity. Email your local city council representative right now and demand they review the proposal for these tiny homes. Post this link to your own Facebook page to ensure the city hears us.
February 24, 2016
The momentum behind the Abby Digs proposal proves our community is ready for real housing solutions. Post our link on your Facebook page and email your city representative today to demand they approve this pilot project.
Reached 100 supporters
February 24, 2016
58 Comments
I think Abby Digs is a fantastic solution. Brilliant idea for seniors as they are next big wave of homeless in BC.
I support this. Housing first is a proven method for assisting marginalized people recover.
Please make this happen! It's been done before and elsewhere, and Abby Digs has done their homework to make this a success.
This is something that can give people a hand-up rather than a hand out. Stable housing and showers is a hug step in the right direction for people wanting to enter back into society fro whatever walk of life they had been on.
It'll be such a great community project. We've even talked with high schools to see if their teens would like to experience! There is so much potential to bring us all together
I'd like to see the tiny homes just a bit bigger. Love the idea. I can imagine church groups and community groups building homes for the Abby Digs neighbourhood. Many people in Abby want to do something but don't know what to do.
This is such a good and sensible idea,
Willing to work if this goes through
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I think Abby Digs is a fantastic solution. Brilliant idea for seniors as they are next big wave of homeless in BC.