Homeless advocates in Abbotsford say a looming battle against a proposed social housing project is yet-more evidence of a war on the city’s most vulnerable citizens.

The Abbotsford Downtown Business Association has been circulating a petition against the project, which could take at least 20 men off the street. They fear the low-barrier admissions could cause problems in the area.

Abbotsford Community Services, which plans to open the transitional housing next to its main office on Montrose Avenue, has promised to accept any man regardless of their condition, including those addicted to drugs.

“We used to be an area that used to have severe problems and we’re just now getting out of that,” said Tina Stewart, executive director of the ADBA. “Our community is concerned that we’re about to fall back.”

Two thousand people have signed the petition so far, worrying that even 20 people could negatively impact the neighbourhood.

But community services director Rod Santiago said solutions have to start somewhere.

"We're doing this because it's the right thing to do. We're doing this because every single person deserves the right to have a chance," Santiago said.

There are an estimated 200 homeless people living in Abbotsford, many of whom suffer from mental health issues and drug addictions. Santiago says housing is the first step to helping them turn their lives around.

"We believe in housing first. Until you have a roof over your head, it's really tough to be able to address some of the other deeper issues underneath."

Stewart thinks that a better option can be found to suit the whole community, including creating smaller housing projects throughout the city.

“I think we can find an option that works for the entire community, not just the homeless,” she said.

The city is earning a reputation for being hard on its homeless population, following a number of incidents apparently intended to drive them away.

Last month, city workers spread chicken manure on a homeless camp, and police have been accused of damaging tents and using pepper spray to make them uninhabitable.

Abbotsford Community Services is hosting an open house for the housing project on July 25.

With files from CTV British Columbia’s Peter Grainger