The doors of a new supportive housing building in Surrey are open, providing more than 60 safe and secure homes for people in the community experiencing, or at-risk of, homelessness.

“These new homes will give vulnerable people the supports they need to get back on their feet, ensuring our community is safer and healthier,” said Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford. “Our government will continue to build homes like these in Surrey and across the province so that people experiencing homelessness can have a roof over their head and a place to call home.”

Located at 14706 104th Ave., the Baird Blackstone Building has 61 permanent studio units, each with a private washroom and kitchenette. The building also has a commercial kitchen, dining and lounge areas, storage and amenity space, and laundry and medical rooms.

Lookout Housing and Health Society, an experienced non-profit housing operator, will manage the building. The society will provide residents with constant on-site staff and support services, including meal programs, life and employment skills training, health and wellness support services, and opportunities for volunteer work. The society has also been managing a year-round shelter adjacent to the site since 2017.

“Lookout Society is excited to operate the new supportive housing accommodation in Surrey and to provide safe and affordable homes for some of the city’s most vulnerable individuals,” said Shayne Williams, CEO, Lookout Housing and Health Society. “This housing will offer an opportunity for tenants to transition to building stability and improve their quality of life. We thank our partners from BC Housing and the City of Surrey for their leadership in making this much-needed supportive housing possible.”

The Baird Blackstone Building is part of a commitment between the Province and the City of Surrey to deliver 250 permanent supportive modular homes to replace the temporary sites in the community. Along with this project, two other supportive housing sites, the Nest and Peterson Place, have already opened, adding 139 supportive homes to the commitment.

“This past year has illustrated that during uncertain times the need to have a safe place to call home has never been greater,” said Doug McCallum, mayor, City of Surrey. “Unfortunately, there are still many people who do not have a roof over their head. By providing housing and vital supportive services for Surrey’s most vulnerable, today’s announcement is another step in the right direction. Through our continued partnership with the Province of B.C., we are rapidly adding much-needed supportive housing and removing the largest barrier that prevents vulnerable citizens from getting back on their feet.”

Residents will start moving into the Baird Blackstone Building on Sept. 7, 2021.

Quick Facts:

• The Province provided approximately $16 million to the project through the Homelessness Action Plan and will provide an annual operating subsidy of $1.1 million.
• The City of Surrey provided the land for the project, valued at approximately $1.3 million.

Learn More:

More information on this project is available online: https://letstalkhousingbc.ca/surrey-104-avenue

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

To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians, visit: https://workingforyou.gov.bc.ca/