BC govt. confirms drug consumption space will exist at Abbotsford housing site – near school

ABBOTSFORD — After an Abbotsford South MLA claimed that drugs will be consumed at a proposed housing site in Abbotsford, BC Housing has since released a statement confirming the presence of an “overdose prevention space” – across from a school.

In a video posted to his Facebook page on July 23, 2025, Abbotsford South MLA Bruce Banman asserted that a modular housing development would be built at 2270 Martens Street on land owned by the provincial government, but in close proximity to a nearby school, Abbotsford Traditional School.

“Recently, BC Housing announced that they are going to put modular houses here,” Banman said in his video. “When pressed, they said, well, it was originally for seniors housing, but when really pressed, they said well, if people that are on this street that are in encampments need housing, they’ll end up here. And it was also confirmed that there will be a consumption room in this modular housing.”

In a statement to Fraser Valley Today, BC Housing says the provincial government has identified Abbotsford as a community urgently in need of more housing for homeless people. The most recent Point-in-Time Count conducted in October 2024 identified 465 people without a home in Abbotsford.

“Without supportive housing options being available, more people end up sleeping outside, including in encampments. Encampments are not solutions and do not work for the community around them or the people in them,” BC Housing said in its statement to Fraser Valley Today.

As far as drug consumption facilities are concerned, BC Housing said overdose prevention spaces are par for the course at many supportive housing sites built across B.C.

“Many supportive housing sites built across B.C. include an overdose prevention space designed to reduce public drug use, prevent the death of residents, and improve access to health-care services, such as treatment and recovery supports,” BC Housing. “These spaces serve residents only. They are not available for anyone who is not a resident. The other option is people using alone in their rooms or outside, which doesn’t work for communities and often leads to tragic outcomes.”

Banman blasted the proposed modular building as a drug site close to a school.

Image: MLA Bruce Banman / MLA Bruce Banman gestures toward a park where a proposed modular housing site could be built.

“A drug use site across from a school, disguised as seniors housing,” Banman wrote on his Facebook post. “That’s what BC Housing is pushing on this community. What was promised as a safe, supportive project for seniors is now being revealed as a facility for active drug users—with a consumption room—steps from where children learn and play. Parents weren’t told. The public wasn’t consulted. And the NDP government won’t give straight answers. Send a message to the NDP that’s it’s time to stop opening drug dens next to playgrounds.”

Banman argues that only a select few residents near 2270 Martens Street were notified about the proposed housing site where drugs will be consumed.

Image: Bruce Banman

“BC Housing, not only did they kind of fib about the seniors only thing, but they ensured that the catchment basin of who they notified was very, very, very tight. Literally, there are homes up behind me here. A couple of the close ones got it. But just a little bit further away, they didn’t get announced at all. And in addition to that, BC Housing made sure that a school that’s nearby, very nearby, made sure that it happened after school was closed before they announced this was going on.”

BC Housing says the building will not be an emergency shelter, but rather provide housing and support services to people who need it most.

“This building would be in place temporarily as we continue to build more permanent supportive homes in the community. It would not be an emergency shelter. Rather, it would provide more stable housing units with support services for people in the Abbotsford area who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness – including seniors, people with disabilities and other people who need support services to maintain stable housing,” BC Housing said.