Women and women with children who are homeless or at risk will soon have access to new supportive housing with the official start of construction for the Budzey Building - the 11th new supportive housing development to get underway in Vancouver.

Located at 220 Princess Ave., the Budzey Building is one of 14 new developments that the B.C. government is building in partnership with the City of Vancouver to create more than 1,500 supportive apartments. The 10-storey, 147-apartment building will be managed and operated by RainCity Housing and Support Society.

Funding for this project will be provided by:

• The government of B.C., who will provide approximately $37.1 million in construction financing and $891,000 in annual operational funding when the building is complete.
• The City of Vancouver, who donated the land, valued at $4 million, and will provide a combination of waived development cost charges, levy reductions and municipal contribution for site clean-up in the amount of over $902,000.
• Streetohome Foundation, who will contribute approximately $2.9 million.
• BC Hydro, who will provide $19,600 in equity.

Construction is estimated to be completed by spring 2014.

Quotes:

Rich Coleman, Minister of Energy, Mines and Natural Gas and Minister Responsible for Housing -

"Supportive housing developments such as the Budzey Building are a critical step in breaking the cycle of homelessness in our province. This project will allow vulnerable women and women with children to make the transition from homelessness and living in shelters to self-sufficiency and independence by offering them a safe home with support services to rebuild their lives."

Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of

"The Budzey Building will provide 147 units of urgently needed supportive housing for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including many women with children. This partnership with the Province, the Streetohome Foundation and RainCity Housing will provide life-changing support to many of Vancouver's most vulnerable and marginalized women, and brings us another step closer to our crucial goal of ending street homelessness in Vancouver by 2015."

Rob Turnbull, president and CEO, Streetohome Foundation -

"Streetohome is proud to work with our partners - the city, the Province and RainCity Housing - to provide housing with support services for single women and women with children. Our contribution to this valuable project is made possible through generous donations from Silver Wheaton ($1.5 million) and Face the World Foundation ($500,000). We thank them and all of our donors for helping create safe, decent, affordable, supportive housing for those on the streets and those at-risk in our city.

Leslie Remund, acting executive director, RainCity Housing and Support Society -

"The Budzey Building demonstrates a commitment to women and their families who are faced with social and economic inequality. We are excited about the opportunity to provide 147 units of women-led housing."

Quick Facts:

• There are over 500 provincially funded spaces in Vancouver, designated for women, which include shelter spaces and housing units.
• In 2011-12, the B.C. government invested approximately $142.6 million to provide subsidized housing for more than 25,800 Vancouver households.
• Established in 1982, RainCity Housing and Support Society is a non-profit, charitable organization that provides progressive housing and support solutions for vulnerable individuals across the Lower Mainland. RainCity Housing is a leader in finding workable, cost-effective solutions that ultimately benefit everyone in the community.

Learn More:

Provincial housing programs: www.bchousing.org/Initiatives/Creating/PHI

Streetohome Foundation: www.streetohome.org

RainCity Housing and Support Society: www.raincityhousing.org

Contacts:

Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445

City of Vancouver
Corporate Communications
604 871-6336
media@vancouver.ca

Lindsay Yuasa
Streetohome Foundation
604 629-2711

Bill Briscall
RainCity Housing and Support Society
604 671-2169