FILE PHOTO.
(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)
May 03, 2023 - 12:00 PM
More than two-thirds of B.C. residents would be happy for the government to spend tax dollars on housing the homeless, but the majority also feel that governments at all levels are doing a bad job.
According to a Research Co. poll, 67 per cent of B.C. residents agree with devoting tax dollars to house the houseless, and 77 per cent would like to see incentives to developers if they build affordable housing units.
Four in five B.C. residents (82 per cent) agree with increasing temporary housing for people experiencing homelessness, a sightly increase from a similar poll conducted in August 2022.
However, the majority (64 per cent) of the public believes the federal government is doing a "bad" or "very bad" job of dealing with homelessness.
READ MORE: Here’s what it costs to house the homeless
That number drops slightly to 59 per cent when it comes to how bad a job the province is doing in dealing with homelessness, while 57 per cent feel that municipal governments are doing a "bad" or "very bad" job.
Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) think zoning bylaws should be changed to allow property owners to build more units.
The vast majority of B.C. residents (78 per cent) think that homelessness in the province is a "major problem," and 50 per cent believe it can be solved with the proper funding and policies.
Almost half (48 per cent) think homelessness will always be a problem.
READ MORE: Why homelessness will only get worse in the Okanagan, Kamloops
Sixty-three per cent believe addiction and mental health issues are to blame for a "great deal" of why people become homeless, while 31 per cent think it's a personal choice.
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