The doors to HYAD Place, a new housing development for young adults with developmental disabilities in North Vancouver officially opened today.

Located at 2130 Chesterfield Ave., the four-storey building provides 14 residential apartments for young adults with developmental disabilities and two apartments for the onsite property manager and outreach worker. The outreach worker provides continuing life skills training to help residents live more independently. Residents also share a common lounge and communal kitchen.

Funding for HYAD Place was provided by:

• The B.C. Government provided approximately $5.1 million.
• The North Vancouver School District No. 44 provided the land valued at over $1.1 million.
• The HYAD Society provided $166,000 in equity.

Quotes:

Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State for Tourism and Small Business and MLA for Lonsdale -

“It’s important to both me and our government that youth living with developmental disabilities have access to safe, affordable housing on the North Shore. The opening of HYAD Place ensures that these young adults now have a place to truly call their own, allowing them to foster independence in the community they know and love.”

Franci Stratton, board chair, North Vancouver Board of Education -

“The North Vancouver Board of Education was pleased to have provided the land for the development of HYAD Place. These apartments are a welcome addition to the community, providing residents a place to grow independently and a venue to build lasting friendships for years to come.”

Clay Knowlton, president, HYAD Society -

“Our society had a vision, to create safe and secure homes for our children to allow them to age in place. It is through years of hard work and perseverance that made the opening of HYAD Place a reality and we’d like to thank all our partners for their support.”

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 over $10.7 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for 2,763 North Vancouver households.
• Housing for Young Adults With Disabilities (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.

Learn More:

• To learn more about provincial housing programs and services, visit www.bchousing.org 
• Follow BC Housing on Twitter: @BC_Housing (twitter.com)

Media Contacts:

Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445