A $1.6-million renovation has transformed a former hotel in Vancouver into residences for 95 individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. A partnership between the Province and the City of Vancouver, the Biltmore Hotel at 395 Kingsway now provides interim apartments while more supportive housing is completed.

Provincial funding included $535,000 for safety and security upgrades and approximately $1.7 million for annual operating costs. The City of Vancouver provided $1.1 million for renovation work. Raincity Housing is managing the building and providing supports to tenants.

The B.C. government is partnering with the City of Vancouver to build 14 supportive housing developments, adding more than 1,500 apartments for those who are homeless. Seven buildings, with more than 600 apartments, are already open. The remaining buildings will open over the next two to three years.

Quotes:

Minister Rich Coleman -

"The Province invests in a wide range of services and supports to address homelessness in Vancouver and in communities throughout the province. We have committed resources to outreach teams, emergency shelters, supportive housing and rent supplements. These apartments at the Biltmore add another layer of services, helping to address homelessness in Vancouver."

Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of

"We've had a strong partnership with the B.C. government to get new affordable housing and shelters open throughout Vancouver. These interim units at the Biltmore will give people a home while new permanent housing is being built, and move the City closer to our goal of ending street homelessness in Vancouver by 2015."

Quick Facts:

• Last year, the provincial government invested more than $116 million to provide subsidized housing, rent supplements and emergency shelter services to more than 26,000 low-income people in Vancouver.
• Since 2001, the Province has developed or preserved around 6,700 units of housing in Vancouver.
• Through a partnership, the Province and City are building close to 1,500 new supportive apartments for those who are homeless, in partnership with the City of Vancouver. More than half of these new developments are open, with more than 600 apartments with integrated support services. The remainder will be completed over the next two years.
• A $143 million project is now underway to renovate and restore 13 Single Room Occupancy Hotels the province purchased in the DTES.
• Outreach teams connect individuals who are homeless to a variety of services they need to help break the cycle of homeless including housing, shelters, health care and income support.

Learn More:

To learn more about provincial programs and services to address homelessness, please visit: www.bchousing.org

To learn more about programs and services offered by the City of Vancouver, please visit: www.vancouver.ca

Media Contact:

Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445
604 561-4375 (Cell)

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