Wagner Hills Farm Society's House of Hope Centre has officially opened to provide 10 beds and support service space for women overcoming addictions in Langley.

House of Hope Centre is a new building added to the House of Hope site, located at 460 - 216 Street in south Langley. The new building provides 10 beds for long-term residents, a commercial kitchen and dining area for all residents, counselling and administration offices, and additional support services space. The centre complements the 14 existing beds for women overcoming addictions on site. The women's facility is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with staff living at the site.

The Government of B.C. provided $100,000 for the project and the land for a nominal fee through a 30-year renewable lease. Wagner Hills Farm Society contributed more than $75,000 equity along with community partners who provided in-kind donations of windows, doors, steel, drain piping, plumbing and additional construction materials valued at $178,000. In addition, fundraising and private donors provided nearly $1,040,000 for the construction of the building.

Wagner Hills Farm Society operates and manages the site. This faith-based community offers support services, farm work and job skills training for individuals to better enable them to positively give back to the community.

Quotes:

Rich Coleman, Minister of Natural Gas Development and Minister Responsible for Housing, MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove -

"Our government has partnered with Wagner Hill Farms to develop this project that offers stable housing with integrated support services to help women overcome addictions. The House of Hope will deliver on its name and bring hope to women in need. This facility will make a difference in our community and change lives in the process."

Jack Froese, mayor of the Township of Langley -

"The House of Hope site has changed the lives of a number of women and will continue to do so into the future. I would like to acknowledge Wagner Hill Farms for all their work in helping men and women overcome addictions, and in the process, strengthening this community."

Helmut Boehm, executive director of Wagner Hills Farm Society -

"With the support of the Province and from the community, we were able to build this addition to help more individuals who struggle with addiction and otherwise broken lifestyles so they can seek freedom and healing. The new House of Hope Centre will allow us to increase our resident base and provide larger facilities to accommodate residents' needs."

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $3.6 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This year, more than 98,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.
• In 2012-13, the B.C. government invested nearly $7.1 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for nearly 2,000 households in Langley. This includes providing support for more than 1,300 senior households and over 460 family households.
• Established in 1981, Wagner Hills Farm Society, a healing Christian community, promotes and assists the rehabilitation of people with substance addictions and behavioural and spiritual needs. The society has been successfully operating supportive transitional housing developments for men at Wagner Hills Farm in Langley, as well as in Creston in partnership with Addiction Recovery in the Kootenays, and in Fort St. John in partnership with Shelter with Chemical and Alcohol Rehabilitation Services.

Learn More:

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

To learn more about Wagner Hills Farm Society's programs and services offered to support community members at large, visit: www.wagnerhills.com

Media contact:

Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445