Seven Surrey housing and shelter projects receive $575,000 as need grows

Seven housing and shelter projects in Surrey will receive a combined $575,000 from Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society. The local charity announced the recipients of its 2026 Leading the Way Home grants at Surrey City Hall on Sept. 17.

The total is more than double the $250,000 originally earmarked for 2026 projects. Board chair and Surrey city councillor Pardeep Kooner said the society increased the funding because of both the quality of applications and growing community need, and because its grant fund had the capacity to do so.

Surrey established the society in 2008 with a $9-million endowment from the city's Affordable Housing Reserve Fund. In 2025, the City of Surrey earmarked another $3.6 million for the fund, to be contributed over three years at $1.2 million annually. Eligible Leading the Way Home projects must either help create housing or expand an organization's ability to support people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness.

Entre Nous Femmes received $250,000 to replace 40 aging townhomes with 700 affordable homes in two phases. Atira Women's Resources Society received $82,495 to help create 30 new affordable homes, while New Hope Community Services Society received $50,000 for renovations to modernize a 60-year-old development. The YWCA received $17,569 for repairs supporting 36 homes for women and their children.

Pacific Community Resource Society received $15,000 to renovate a resource serving people experiencing homelessness and improve its ability to withstand extreme temperatures. SUMS Place Society received $10,000 for renovations that will increase shelter capacity from 30 to 60 people. Lookout Housing and Health Society received $150,000 to buy a home for people who are most difficult to house.

Vera LeFranc of Surrey Homelessness and Housing Society said the province's suspension of its Community Housing Fund earlier this year affected many needed non-market housing projects. She said the society could not meet every need but aimed to help create or retain as many housing options as possible.