A new affordable housing development for young adults with developmental disabilities broke ground today in North Vancouver.

HYAD Place, located at 2130 Chesterfield Ave., will include 14 residential apartments for young adults with developmental disabilities and two apartments for an onsite residential manager and life skills worker. The building will also have a common lounge and kitchen for residents.

The B.C. government will provide approximately $5.3 million. The land, valued at over $1.1 million, was owned by the North Vancouver school district and the contribution to HYAD was secured and made possible through the City of North Vancouver's Official Community Plan amendment and rezoning approval. The HYAD Society will provide $166,000 in equity and will manage and operate HYAD Place when complete.

Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2013.

Quotes:

Naomi Yamamoto, MLA Lonsdale -

"Our government is proud to announce our commitment and support for HYAD Place. I would like to thank the City of North Vancouver, the community and most importantly the HYAD Society for their vision and efforts to ensuring that youth in our community who live with developmental disabilities will soon have a new and affordable place to call home."

Darrell Mussatto, mayor, City of

"The City of North Vancouver is a committed partner in the development of HYAD Place. These new apartments will provide young adults with developmental disabilities with more affordable rental options in the city, allowing them to live independently, close to services, and their support network of family and friends."

Cavan Stevens, vice-president, HYAD Society -

"It is reassuring to know that young adults with developmental disabilities in this community will have more than just affordable housing, but also a safe supportive environment which allows them to age in place in a community they know and love. We are very thankful for the support from the governments of B.C. and North Vancouver, along with the support the North Vancouver school board and Polygon provided to make HYAD Place possible, and we look forward to the opening of this building."

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $3.2 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This year, more than 97,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial housing programs and services.
• Under BC's Family Agenda, government is committed to improving housing for low-income families, seniors and people experiencing homelessness.
• In 2011-12, the B.C. government invested over $9 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for more than 2,500 households in North Vancouver.
• HYAD Place is part of the $207 million in new capital investment announced by Premier Christy Clark at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Victoria. While these are new projects, this capital investment is not new money. It is money the government saved from the capital plan through fiscal prudence.
• HYAD Society is a non-profit organization established by a proactive group of parents to develop and manage a housing project that will provide affordable, safe, age in place co-operative housing for 14 young adults who have intellectual disabilities and receive Person with Disabilities benefits.

To learn more about provincial housing programs and services, visit: www.bchousing.org

Media Contacts:

Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445

Connie Rabold
City of North Vancouver
604 983-7383