The rain did not stop several dozen people from participating in Sources Community Resource Centres annual homeless awareness march.
Today's walk was a call to action, to advocate for and bring awareness to homelessness response and prevention, said Adrianna Spyker, board chair of Sources.
Spyker said the rainy weather Surrey experienced on Friday was a reminder of the privileges many have.
"We're cold, but later we're gonna go inside, maybe we're gonna have a hot drink, maybe plug in your electric blanket," Spyker said. "You get to take off your wet clothes, whereas there are so many people in our community who don't have that privilege and are looking for shelter or looking for a place to stay warm and find refuge."
"According to Surrey's homelessness count last year, and pointing out, this is just those who were counted, there were over 1,000 individuals who were identified in our community as experiencing homelessness, but we know for a fact, given us our service providers and those who are working in the community, those numbers are way more," Spyker said.
"(Sources) really takes the housing first stance, and that we need to first do housing, and then the other parts are the supportive services around that."
Jason Blaschuk, Sources' housing support services manager, said today's walk is a "reminder that homelessness is not a choice but a circumstance" that anyone can experience.
The walk started at the Sources Newton office (102 - 13771 72A Ave) at 11:30 a.m. and made its way up King George Boulevard before turning around at 76 Avenue to return to the office for refreshments.
"Today, we come together not only to walk but to raise our voices and shine a light on an issue that affects far too many in our community and across the world," Blaschuk said. "Homelessness is not just about a loss of shelter, but a loss of security, dignity and opportunity. Each person without a home has a story, a name, a life filled with challenges that many of us will never fully understand."
Susan Sellick, Sources' housing first case manager, said the march's goal, when it first started over a decade ago, was to respond to the emerging homelessness crisis.
"Back then, you could get a room, a room to rent for $375 to $500," Sellick said.
Things have drastically changed since then. "Now, the rent for that room can be $900 to $1,200."
Surrey has also seen a 163 per cent increase in homelessness since 2014 and a 65 per cent increase in the number of people counted since 2020.
"We do what we can, but sometimes it's not enough. Often it's not enough. Daily, we see people becoming street homeless and without a whole lot of hope for housing in the near future," Sellick said.
There is hope, though. Surrey is innovative and collaborative like Sources is, she added.
"Diligence, longevity, perseverance, and that's what keeps us going, and that's what we try to instill in our clients, as well as hope to keep going and keep pushing forward, cause all they need is one home, one place."
In September, the City of Surrey launched a Homelessness Prevention and Response Plan that provides a "roadmap" to help the city address its problem over the next five years.
According to a press release issued by the City on Sept. 17, A Pathway to Home sets up a framework centring on for four types of housing including shelter spaces, independent non-market housing, transitional and supportive housing.
Spyker added it is essential to hold elected officials accountable as B.C. heads to the polls on Saturday for the provincial election.
"We are calling on all politicians and local leaders for solutions for not just homelessness response, but to homelessness prevention. This response and quickly picking up after the pieces is not stopping the tumbleweed from still coming and getting bigger and bigger."
Spyker said they will hold those elected accountable "because we want to see that change in our communities."
-With files from Tom Zytaruk
