Seniors and people with disabilities now have more access to affordable rental housing in Vancouver. The B.C. government, the City of Vancouver and community partners celebrated the official opening of the first new social housing building at the Little Mountain site today.

The building’s opening represents a key milestone in the progress of B.C.’s largest social housing redevelopment project.

The Little Mountain redevelopment, bounded by 33rd to 37th avenues between Main and Ontario streets, is a key component of the Province’s housing strategy. By redeveloping the site as a mixed-use community, an aging, low-density property with significant repair costs has been transformed into an engine of renewal, providing affordable homes for decades to come.

Once fully developed, Little Mountain will have approximately 1,500 affordable housing units, including the original 234 units of low-income housing and 10 units specifically for the Musqueam Nation.

Redeveloping the site has enabled the Province to generate revenue used to develop 2,100 units of supportive housing in partnership with eight municipalities, including 1,500 units in Vancouver. The proceeds have enabled a new model of housing - supportive housing for people with mental health, addiction and other chronic conditions.

The new five-storey building features 47 one-bedroom and six two-bedroom apartments. Managed by More Than a Roof, the building also includes an amenity room, community garden, patio space, a bicycle and scooter storage room and a weekly, low-cost food program for residents.

Quotes:

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

“The completion of the first social housing building at Little Mountain is a vital step forward, demonstrating how to find innovative ways to fund new social housing and renew existing housing. The redevelopment of Little Mountain has provided the means to build more than 2,100 new supportive housing units throughout the province, including about 1,500 units in Vancouver.”

Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of Vancouver -

“Located in the heart of our city, Little Mountain is a neighbourhood with an important place in Vancouver’s history. Managed and operated by More than a Roof, today’s opening of 53 affordable apartments for seniors is an important milestone in our work together to build an inclusive and vibrant new community at Little Mountain.”

Joo Kim Tiah, president & CEO, Holborn Properties -

“We are excited to be here today to celebrate the completion of the first opening at Little Mountain’s redevelopment which will revitalize the community in so many ways. Holborn is proud to be a partner in this important project that is renewing this urban neighbourhood.”

Lorne Epp, executive director, More Than a Roof -

“A home is more than just a roof above your head. With the opening of these 53 new affordable rental apartments, our seniors now have more access to quality housing in the community they know and love, a place where they can continue to live independently and maintain an active healthy lifestyle.”

Quick facts:

• The City of Vancouver and BC Housing signed a memorandum of understanding for the sale and redevelopment of Little Mountain in 2007.
• Little Mountain is the first public housing site in Vancouver to be redeveloped under Housing Matters BC, the Province’s housing strategy.
• Holborn Properties was selected in 2008 as the development partner for the site.
• A city-led public consultation process began in 2009, leading to the approval of a policy statement from the city in June 2012, to guide the rezoning and redevelopment process.
• The B.C. government is investing all of the net proceeds from the sale of the Little Mountain into social housing throughout the province. This includes a partnership with the City of Vancouver to develop approximately 1,500 new housing units at 14 city-owned sites.
• Since 2001, the Province has invested $4 billion to provide affordable housing for nearly 100,000 low-income individuals, seniors and families.
• Last year, the B.C. government invested over $112 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for more than 26,000 Vancouver households.

Learn More:

For more information on provincial affordable housing programs and efforts to end homelessness in B.C., please visit: www.housingmattersbc.ca/factsheets.html and www.bchousing.org

More Than a Roof brings close to 30 years of experience in developing, building and managing inclusive communities of affordable housing in the Metro Vancouver, Prince George and Vancouver Island for low-to moderate-income families and individuals, some of whom live with mental health challenges and addictions. Learn more at: www.morethanaroof.org

The Holborn Group is a Vancouver-based real estate development company with extensive global experience and a reputation for high quality, innovative communities and people-minded results. Holborn’s current development projects include the Trump International Hotel & Tower Vancouver, the Little Mountain re-development, and University Heights in Squamish. For more information, visit: Holborn.ca

Follow BC Housing on Twitter: @BC_Housing (twitter.com)

Media Contacts:

Elaine McKay
BC Housing
778 452-6476

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

Irene Quan
Holborn Properties
604 688-8387, ext. 121