BC Gov News

The governments of Canada and British Columbia, along with community partners, officially opened Pacific Coast Apartments today, a new 96-unit supportive housing development for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Vancouver.

The Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia announced a public-private partnership to renovate and restore 13 provincially owned Single Room Occupancy hotels in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside to provide access to clean and safe social housing.

The Province is providing up to $1 million to keep the First United shelter open for an additional four months on Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

As a result of federal and provincial investments in affordable housing, a new program is available to help low-income seniors and people with disabilities finance home modifications for accessible, safe and independent living.

Forty-two interim shelter spaces open today at the Marble Arch Hotel, a provincially owned SRO. This shelter facility, using vacant commercial space at the Marble Arch, will operate 24 hours a day, offer a meal program and incorporate a unique couples-only component.

The Province and the City of Vancouver will share costs and open two new temporary shelters in Vancouver over the next few weeks.

The Province will open 42 interim shelter spaces in mid-December, using vacant commercial space at the Marble Arch Hotel, a provincially owned Single Room Occupancy Hotel located at 518 Richards St. in Vancouver.

Construction is progressing at 1249 Howe Street where a new, 12-storey building will provide 110 new supportive housing apartments for individuals in Vancouver with HIV/AIDS who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

A women-only, emergency shelter will open at 329 Powell St. in Vancouver beginning Monday, Nov. 28, 2011.

St. James Community Service Society, a non-profit housing provider celebrating 50 years of service within the Downtown Eastside and across Vancouver, has been selected to develop, manage and operate an innovative project.