Building Hope for Families: Expanding Foundational Housing to Surrey

Every family deserves a safe, dignifying place to catch their breath during a housing crisis. For years, Fraserside Community Services Society has operated a family foundation home in New Westminster—one of only two dedicated facilities of its kind in the region. It serves as a supportive sanctuary where parents and children (including fathers) can stabilize, access wraparound services, and map out their path to long-term independence.

The impact of this model speaks for itself. In 2025, our temporary housing initiative achieved an 81% direct transition rate, successfully moving 74 individuals—including 38 children across 24 distinct family units—out of acute housing risk and into permanent independent rentals or second-stage housing.

Addressing a Growing Regional Need

Despite these successes, the housing pressures facing families across our region are immense. Last year alone, a severe regional shortage of temporary family beds forced our team to turn away over 1,700 people—including more than 700 children. Behind every turnaway is a family searching for safety, stability, and peace of mind.

As one of British Columbia’s fastest-growing communities, Surrey sees a rising number of households—particularly newcomer and immigrant families—facing sudden housing barriers without a dedicated temporary housing model of this kind within their city limits.

The Vision: Surrey Family Foundation House

To bridge this gap, Fraserside is moving forward with capital planning to launch the Surrey Family Foundation House, bringing a dedicated 10-bed home to Surrey.

Designed to blend seamlessly into a residential neighborhood, the Surrey Family Foundation House will offer far more than short-term accommodations. It will provide a warm, community-centered environment where families receive comprehensive stabilization care, tenancy support, and individualized housing navigation to transition into permanent, affordable homes.

Capital Planning & Looking Ahead

Bringing this vision to life requires thoughtful capital planning, strategic site location, and strong community alignment. Through dedicated capital development efforts, Fraserside is establishing key operational benchmarks, securing startup resources, and laying the groundwork to ensure the site integrates smoothly into the neighborhood while aligning with regional housing priorities.

Standing Together for Families

Stability creates opportunity. When parents have a safe foundation and children have a quiet room to sleep in, families can move beyond survival and plan for the future with confidence.

As capital planning for the Surrey Family Foundation House advances, Fraserside looks forward to working alongside local leaders and community champions. Together, we can ensure that when a family faces housing instability, a safe door and a clear path home are ready for them.