Pacifica Housing and Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society, in partnership with Columbian Centre Society and Haven Society, have been selected as the successful non-profit providers to develop, manage and operate two new supportive housing developments for those who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Nanaimo.

The societies were selected as the result of a Request for Proposal call issued in September, which included an extensive evaluation process carried out by a committee comprised of representatives from the two funding organizations - BC Housing and the City of Nanaimo.

Pacifica Housing will operate the 6025 Uplands site, while the three societies will work in partnership to provide housing with supports for the 1612 Dufferin Cres. development.

Expected to begin construction in early 2013, each of these new buildings will create between 35 and 40 units of supportive housing, for a total of up to 80 new units that will connect individuals with the services and supports they need to stabilize and regain their independence.

With the non-profit selection process now complete, the Province and the City of Nanaimo will work in partnership with the societies to fully develop plans for community consultation, design and programs to be offered at the facilities.

The Dufferin and Uplands developments are part of a partnership between the Province of British Columbia and the City of Nanaimo to help address homelessness in the city.

The new locations are in addition to two sites:

• Salish Lelum at 477 Tenth St. was recently completed and provides 18 apartments for Aboriginal youth and elders.
• 437 Wesley St. is under construction and will provide 36 apartments of supportive housing.

In total, these four sites will create approximately 130 new apartments of supportive housing in Nanaimo.

Quotes:

Karyn French, executive director, Pacifica Housing -

"Working together with the Province, the City of Nanaimo and the local community, we look forward to adding the Uplands development to our range of housing options, serving the people who will live there as well as the community in which it resides. We recently opened a new supported housing development in a very similar environment and know we can translate its successes to this community through a mutual fostering of respect and understanding."

Jim Spinelli, executive director, Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society -

"We are looking forward to working in partnership with Columbian Centre Society and Haven Society in order to offer personalized, respectful and caring service to the future tenants of the Dufferin site. Our society is happy to add Dufferin to our four supportive housing developments already working towards meeting the needs of Nanaimo residents."

Quick Facts:

• As part of the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC, the provincial government is providing capital and operating costs to develop new supportive housing on city-owned sites.
• The Province has committed to spend $520 million to create more than 2,300 new supportive housing units in eight municipalities around the province, creating an estimated 3,300 jobs.
• Those eight municipalities include: Abbotsford, Campbell River, Kelowna, Maple Ridge, Nanaimo, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria.
• Construction is now underway at many of the 32 housing developments proposed under these municipal partnerships.
• Over the last decade, the Province has invested $2.8 billion to provide affordable housing for low income individuals, seniors and families.
• This year, more than 95,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.
• In Nanaimo, the Province invested approximately $8.7 million last year to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for close to 2,000 low-income individuals, seniors and families.
• Pacifica Housing is a non-profit charitable organization, incorporated in 1988. Its mandate is to provide innovative, affordable housing opportunities and support services for families and single adults in order to break the cycle of homelessness and allow them to live with dignity, safety and stability. The society currently manages over 780 units of housing for those in need at 30 complexes in Victoria and Nanaimo, including Riverbend, Pacific Court and Rivergate.
• Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society, who will head up the Dufferin project in partnership with Columbian Centre Society and Haven Society, was formed in 1990 by a group of community members to advocate for affordable housing for those in need in Nanaimo. Today, the society currently manages four housing developments in Nanaimo, providing 81 units for families, singles and persons with disabilities.

Learn More:

About provincial housing programs: http://www.bchousing.org/Initiatives

To read how the provincial housing strategy is helping British Columbians, visit:

http://www.bchousing.org/Media/Stories

Further information about the work of Pacifica Housing can be found at: www.pacificahousing.ca

Further information about the work of Nanaimo Affordable Housing Society can be found at: www.nahs.ca

Further information about the work of Columbian Centre Society can be found at: www.columbiancentresociety.com

Further information about the work of Haven Society can be found at: www.havensociety.com

Media Contact:

Seumas Gordon
BC Housing
604 439-4789