An advocate for the homeless is tossing her hat into the ring for Maple Ridge council this fall.

Chris Bossley said in a Monday news release that she’s running in the Oct. 20 civic election.

“This city needs strong solutions on transit, housing affordability, and the opioid crisis, and with my previous work and volunteerism, I’m prepared to take on those challenges,” she said.

“In order for us to be truly effective at governing, we must be prepared to work with the provincial and federal governments to get what we need for Maple Ridge.”

Bossley said that through her work and advocacy for the residents of Anita Place Tent City, she’s learned that cooperative solutions can be found by addressing needs “holistically, instead of each in isolation.”

She said she wants to improve transit service in Maple Ridge and shorten commuter times and change things for the better.

“I love this city. It’s unique. Golden Ears Provincial Park is a destination point, and I believe we can put Maple Ridge on the map again for positive reasons. I’m willing to fight for that.”

Bossley has worked for her current employer, a Vancouver real estate development company, for the past 10 years and has knowledge and experience related to the acquisition and development of residential and commercial properties in Metro Vancouver.

Bossley helps out with events such as the 24-Hour Relay, which helps send kids to Easter Seals camp every summer. She volunteers at the Vancouver Food Bank and helps out with a reading program for inner city kids.

Last year, she also volunteered for the Metro Vancouver Homeless Count in Maple Ridge and for the Salvation Army Ridge Meadows Ministries lunch program.

It’s through such work that she got to know many people living on the streets and became involved with tent city, she added.