The Province of B.C. has partnered with a local society to purchase and convert a residential home to provide eight beds for women in need of safe second-stage housing in Surrey.

Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society purchased the residential property with the objective of providing housing options for women who have come from transitional housing and are seeking more independent and affordable housing options while they stabilize their lives and seek employment or training opportunities.

Now called Harmony House, the home includes two suites. One self-contained two-bedroom suite will be used to accommodate women with children. The other suite includes six bedrooms and will be used to house single women. The society will use existing internal and community resources to provide supports for the women.

The Province of British Columbia partnered with Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society and provided the interim mortgage of $241,600 to facilitate the purchase of the house. Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society provided $240,000 in equity and secured an additional mortgage of $275,000 for the property.

Quotes:

Charan Gill, CEO for Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society -

"The opening of Harmony House is a milestone as we have reached our goal of creating housing options for women in our community who are coming out of personal challenging situations. We will do our best to provide guidance and link these women and children to the best programs and resources available in the community."

Quick Facts:

• The Province provides $32 million annually to support more than 700 spaces in transition and safe houses as well as second-stage housing.
• Transition houses, safe homes and second-stage housing play a critical role in helping women and their children fleeing violence.
• Second-stage housing provides safe housing and supports for women after they leave an abusive relationship. Women can stay for six to 18 months while they prepare for independent living.
• 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 2011-12, the Province will invest over $44 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for more than 6,800 Surrey households.
• The Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society is a registered non-profit society that seeks to build a healthy and just society, which values all cultures. PICS started as a volunteer-based organization in 1987, and has expanded to include offices in Surrey and Vancouver to serve the multicultural community.

Learn More:

To learn more about provincial programs and services to address homelessness, visit: www.bchousing.org/Initiatives/Creating/PHI

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

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

To learn more about Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society, visit: www.pics.bc.ca

Contact:

Seumas Gordon
BC Housing
604 439-4789
604 417-5791 (cell)