Nov 22, 2023 – Nick Laba/North Shore News

Emotions were high and opinions were many at a public hearing for proposed supportive housing on Keith Road in North Vancouver District.

On Tuesday evening, council chambers were packed with community members and advocates who showed up to express their concerns, support or suggestions for the contentious project.

If approved, the plan is to build a six-storey, 65-studio apartment building at 1200 Keith Rd., operated by Lu’ma Native Housing Society. Five of those units are slated for people requiring complex care, which would be supported by Vancouver Coastal Health. Residents in the new building would be those currently living on the North Shore who are at-risk or currently experiencing homelessness, according to the proposal.

Speaking over Zoom on maternity leave, North Vancouver-Lonsdale MLA Bowinn Ma urged mayor and council to push past pressure to stop the project, including public concerns, “many of which are based, unfortunately, on prejudice and fear.”

“I’m here to support you in making a positive decision on this project and to, frankly, share the political responsibility of moving forward,” Ma said. “There are limited sites for projects like this one, and we need to move ahead. This is the kind of project that saves lives and improves communities for everyone. And I’m extremely hopeful that the compassion of North Vancouver will shine through.”

Read the full article at nsnews.com.