Raincity Housing and Support Society is defending the provincial supportive housing model following criticisms levelled against a plan to build a new facility in Maple Ridge.

The province recently announced the addition of 40 beds to help the city’s growing homeless population.

The model was developed by the previous B.C. Liberal government but was criticized by an advocate for Maple Ridge’s homeless population because it “strips away low income people’s housing rights.”

“You enter those buildings and lose those tenant rights; you’re not covered