VANCOUVER - The Province will provide ongoing operating funding
of approximately $8 million to three HEAT shelters in the City of
Vancouver so they can remain open past April 30, Housing and Social
Development Minister Rich Coleman announced today.
“This additional support is part of our strategy to
address homelessness in Vancouver, and is tied closely to our
multi-million dollar investment in new supportive housing and other
initiatives,” said Coleman. “It means these
three shelters will continue offering support to more than 300
people each night until the new supportive housing apartments
become available.”
The first low-barrier shelters opened in December 2008 in order to
help Vancouver’s homeless citizens during an extremely
cold winter. Since then, the Province has provided $7.25 million in
funding for the temporary shelter spaces.
The three HEAT shelters that are receiving funding extensions
are:
PROVINCE TO CONTINUE FUNDING VANCOUVER HEAT SHELTERS
April 16th, 2010
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New Fountain Shelter (51B Cordova St.) - 28 beds, Portland Hotel Society
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Central Shelter (240 Northern St.) - 100 beds, Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre
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First United Church (320 Hastings St.) - 200 spaces, First United Church of Canada.
Funding is being extended until new supportive housing currently
under construction is completed and ready for occupancy. Funding
for the New Fountain Shelter will end when the Portland Hotel
Society’s $21.6-million apartment building opens next
year. Funding for the Central Shelter will end in 2012, and in 2013
for the First United Church, as other new supportive housing
apartments in Vancouver are completed.
The Province will also offer shelter and housing options to all homeless people currently staying at the four winter-response shelters in Vancouver. These shelters are closing by April 30 in order to meet the commitment made by both the City and the Province to surrounding neighbourhoods. The Province and the non-profit shelter operators have been meeting with people staying at the shelters to find spaces at provincially and privately owned SRO hotels, other shelters and in provincially subsidized affordable housing.
In 2010-11, B.C.’s budget for social housing is approximately $562 million, more than four times as much as in 2001. In Vancouver, the Province’s annual operating budget for affordable housing, emergency shelters and homeless outreach is approximately $123 million. In addition, one-time capital spending committed in Vancouver to create new supportive housing, and to purchase and renovate new and existing affordable housing since 2007, totals more than $440 million.
‘Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness’ is a website providing a comprehensive and detailed look at provincial programs and services to address homelessness. Visit www.bchousing.org/breakingthecycle for more information.
The Province will also offer shelter and housing options to all homeless people currently staying at the four winter-response shelters in Vancouver. These shelters are closing by April 30 in order to meet the commitment made by both the City and the Province to surrounding neighbourhoods. The Province and the non-profit shelter operators have been meeting with people staying at the shelters to find spaces at provincially and privately owned SRO hotels, other shelters and in provincially subsidized affordable housing.
In 2010-11, B.C.’s budget for social housing is approximately $562 million, more than four times as much as in 2001. In Vancouver, the Province’s annual operating budget for affordable housing, emergency shelters and homeless outreach is approximately $123 million. In addition, one-time capital spending committed in Vancouver to create new supportive housing, and to purchase and renovate new and existing affordable housing since 2007, totals more than $440 million.
‘Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness’ is a website providing a comprehensive and detailed look at provincial programs and services to address homelessness. Visit www.bchousing.org/breakingthecycle for more information.
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BACKGROUNDER
PROVINCIAL HOUSING INVESTMENTS IN VANCOUVER
BACKGROUNDER
PROVINCIAL HOUSING INVESTMENTS IN VANCOUVER
Today’s announcement is part of the
Province’s significant investment in housing in
Vancouver since 2006, as part of the provincial housing strategy,
Housing Matters BC.
Each year the Province spends approximately $123 million on affordable housing, emergency shelters and homeless outreach in Vancouver, in addition to one-time capital spending of more than $440 million since 2007 to build new, affordable housing.
Highlights include:
New Supportive Housing
Each year the Province spends approximately $123 million on affordable housing, emergency shelters and homeless outreach in Vancouver, in addition to one-time capital spending of more than $440 million since 2007 to build new, affordable housing.
Highlights include:
New Supportive Housing
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$172 million has been allocated for construction that’s underway on six of the 14 City-owned sites where 1,400 new apartments will be created to alleviate homelessness.
Single Room Occupancy Hotels
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The Province has also spent $86 million to purchase 24 SROs in Vancouver that were facing conversion into more expensive forms of housing.
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$54 million is being spent on renovations to improve the approximately 1,400 rooms.
Emergency Shelters and Homeless Outreach
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There are currently just over 600 year-round emergency shelter beds available in Vancouver, receiving annual funding of nearly $17 million.
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Most are now open 24/7 to offer better services and access to more permanent forms of housing and support.
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Approximately $900,000 in annual funding is provided through the Homeless Outreach Program, so outreach workers with non-profit societies can connect people who are street-homeless to housing and support services.
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Permanent housing was found for 1,220 shelter and homeless outreach clients in the Downtown Eastside in 2009.
Existing Affordable Housing
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More than $130 million is being spent on social housing renovations in Vancouver, to improve some of the older of the 26,000 provincially-subsidized units in Vancouver that receive nearly $105 million in funding every year.
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These 26,000 provincially-subsidized units include nearly 1,000 low-income working family households who receive monthly subsidies of approximately $350 each for private market rental housing through the Rental Assistance Program.
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It also includes more than 2,400 seniors’ households who receive monthly subsidies of approximately $150 each for private market rental housing through the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program.
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Media Contact:
Seumas Gordon
Senior Communications Officer
Ministry of Housing and Social Development
250 387-6490
Seumas Gordon
Senior Communications Officer
Ministry of Housing and Social Development
250 387-6490