The Province is teaming up with the Hope and Area Transition Society and community partners on a proposed development that would bring 52 new homes with supports for people experiencing homelessness in the community.
“This project is a great example of how we’re working with partners to make life better for people in Hope,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Everyone deserves stable housing, and these new supportive homes will give people experiencing homelessness in Hope the foundation they need to move forward with their lives. We’re proud to be working with our partners to deliver thousands of new homes like these across B.C.”
The proposed development would be located at 660/670 Old Hope Princeton Way, connected to House of Hope, a 20-bed shelter that the society has operated since fall 2018. BC Housing and the society will submit a rezoning application for both spaces on Nov. 26.
BC Housing would lead the construction of the project. The society would operate the building and provide residents with meal programs, life and employment skills training, and health and wellness support services.
Hope has no supportive housing. Service providers estimate there are more than 40 people experiencing homelessness in the area, in addition to people currently accessing the House of Hope shelter.
“Hope and Area Transition Society has been the primary lead on homelessness initiatives in Hope since 2008,” said Gerry Dyble, executive director, Hope and Area Transition Society. “For the past decade, Hope has seen a growing number of vulnerable and at-risk people in need of housing and support services.
“Many people have been displaced as a result of the rising cost of rentals. The fact is that Hope does not have affordable housing options or a continuum of housing options for those facing complex challenges. Having supportive housing in Hope will mean that the most vulnerable will no longer be living in unsafe, unsupportive conditions, they will be able to find dignity, gain purpose and stabilize their mental health and substance-use issues.”
If the project is approved, BC Housing will update the community with the estimated project cost and proposed construction timeline. If approved, funding for the project would come from the Province’s Supportive Housing Fund.
Delivering affordable housing is a shared priority between government and the BC Green Party caucus, and is part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement.
Quick Facts:
- BC Housing is inviting neighbours and members of the community to drop in at one of two community information sessions on Dec. 5, 2019, to learn more about the proposal for supportive housing and speak with representatives of BC Housing, the society and community partners.
- In just over two years, government has built close to 2,100 supportive homes. More than 800 more are underway, with a goal of 4,700 over 10 years.
Learn More:
Full reports and a summary of how supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness is substantially improving the quality of life for residents and reducing their use of emergency health services can be found here:
https://www.bchousing.org/modular-supportive-housing-resident-outcomes-reports
To learn more about the community information sessions for supportive housing at 650 Old Hope Princeton Way, visit: www.bchousing.org/hope
To find out what the Province is doing to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians, visit: https://workingforyou.gov.bc.ca/
A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is available online: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC
Two backgrounders follow.