A first-of-its-kind housing development that will provide a mix of affordable rental homes for seniors and homes for people who require on-site dementia care support is now open in Vanderhoof.
“This new building will provide a significant supply of homes for vulnerable seniors and patients in Vanderhoof, allowing them to remain connected within their communities, while receiving the care they need,” said David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. “I want to thank the many partners involved who helped us ensure seniors have safe and affordable housing, along with basic dignity and respect.”
Located at 2657 Church Ave., Parkview Place is a three-storey building with 20 one-bedroom rental homes for seniors with low to moderate incomes. A new licensed dementia care facility, named Aurora Homes, will operate out of the building’s ground floor and will provide an additional eight accessible studio units for patients, which will open later in 2022. Residents will be supported in a home environment by a unique care program that is based on their needs. The homes feature new technologies that support dementia care, such as circadian rhythm lighting. It will also ease the transition for independent seniors who are slowly losing cognitive function and may soon require additional support.
Parkview Place is the first building in B.C. to combine independent seniors housing with a licensed dementia care facility with 24-hour staffing.
The project is a partnership between the Province, through BC Housing, Northern Health, the District of Vanderhoof, Connexus Community Resources and the federal government, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Connexus Community Resources will oversee day-to-day management of both Parkview Place and Aurora Homes, with Northern Health primary care teams providing eligibility assessments and specialized care.
This project is part of B.C.’s 10-year, $7-billion housing plan. Since 2017, the Province has funded nearly 34,000 affordable new homes that have been completed or are underway for people in British Columbia.
Quick Facts:
- The Province, through BC Housing provided a grant of approximately $2.2 million through the Building BC: Community Housing Fund for the 20 affordable homes for independent seniors, as well as approximately $177,000 in annual operating funding.
- Northern Health provided approximately $2 million in funding for the eight dementia care units, as well as approximately $766,000 in annual operating funding.
- The Government of Canada, through the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and the Government of British Columbia, through BC Housing, jointly contributed $349,000 in BC Priorities Housing Initiative bilateral agreement grants.
- The District of Vanderhoof provided the land for Parkview Place, valued at approximately $150,000.
Learn More:
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/
A backgrounder follows.