BURNABY – Seniors in Burnaby have
increased access to affordable housing with today’s
official opening of Swedish Assisted Living Residence, a new
64-unit assisted living development funded by the governments of
Canada and British Columbia, along with community partners.
“Our Government is committed to working with the
Province of British Columbia to develop and implement local
solutions to housing,’’ said the Honourable
Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament
for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of
Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). “This
investment helps seniors in Burnaby access affordable housing that
meets their needs.”
“Projects like Swedish Assisted Living Residence are
essential to growing communities like Burnaby because they fill a
seniors housing need that falls between homecare and residential
care,” said Harry Bloy, MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed.
“Seniors that call this building home can live
independently with the enjoyment of having people nearby to
socialize and develop friendships with and the peace of mind of
having staff on hand if there is an emergency.”
Through an amendment to the Canada-British Columbia Affordable
Housing Agreement, the federal and provincial governments
contributed $10.63 million for 46 apartments within the 64-unit
project. The City of Burnaby provided $355,000 and Swedish Canadian
Rest Home Association provided the land valued at over $2.3 million
in addition to equity of nearly $200,000. Fraser Health is
providing over $673,000 annually for personal care services.
“Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association has been
providing quality seniors housing for residents of Burnaby for over
60 years,” said Mayor Derek Corrigan, City of Burnaby.
“The City was supportive of this project from the start
by investing $355,000 toward this project. I would like to
congratulate the association and all partners for their work and
dedication to bringing more seniors housing options to
Burnaby.”
“When seniors make the decision to move into assisted
living, we want to ensure the transition is as smooth and
successful as possible,” said Jerry Stanger, director,
Acquired Brain Injury Services and Assisted Living, Fraser Health.
“This is why Fraser Health is involved in Swedish
Assisted Living Residence – to give seniors access to
personal care services in their assisted living homes so they can
comfortably maintain their independence and integrate into the
assisted living community.”
Swedish Assisted Living Residence, located at 7230 Halifax St. in
Burnaby, provides 64 assisted living apartments including 46
subsidized apartments and 18 private-pay apartments. Swedish
Canadian Rest Home Association owns the building and manages it in
partnership with ScandiaCare.
“Plans for this building started many years ago and
required an extensive amount of hard work from the board of
directors,” said Margaret Douglas-Matthews, executive
director of Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association. “It
brings us great pleasure to be officially opening Swedish Assisted
Living Residence today along with government partners who have made
this project possible. I would like to acknowledge ScandiaCare and
staff who have truly made this building a welcoming community and
home for our senior residents.”
The Federal-Provincial Housing initiative is a component of the
$180 million Investment in Affordable Housing 2011-2014 Agreement
between the governments of Canada and British Columbia, which was
announced in July 2011. With matching contributions of $90 million
from both levels of government, this total combined investment
helps to support affordable housing programs for B.C. residents.
The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will invest approximately
$2 billion in housing this year. Of this amount, $1.7 billion will
be spent in support of almost 605,000 households living in existing
social housing. In British Columbia, this represents some 68,650
households. These investments are improving the quality of life for
low-income Canadians and households living in existing social
housing, including individuals who are homeless or at-risk of
homelessness, seniors, persons with disabilities, recent immigrants
and Aboriginal people.
To find out more about how the Government of Canada and CMHC are
working to build stronger homes and communities for all Canadians,
call CMHC at 1-800-668-2642 or visit:
www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca
Since 2001, the government of B.C. has invested $3.2 billion to
provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and
families. This year, more than 97,000 B.C. households will benefit
from provincial social housing programs and services. To find out
more, visit:
www.bchousing.org
Under BC’s Family Agenda, government is committed to
improving housing for low-income families, seniors, and people
experiencing homelessness. To learn more, visit
www.familiesfirstbc.ca
A backgrounder follows.
New affordable seniors residence opens in Burnaby
March 8th, 2013
BACKGROUNDER
Swedish Assisted Living Residence
Swedish Assisted Living Residence, located at 7230
Halifax St. in Burnaby, is a three-storey, wood-frame building with
64 one-bedroom assisted living apartments complete with a private
patio/balcony a full kitchen including stove, fridge and microwave.
The development includes a commercial kitchen, dining room, lounge, bathing room spa, TV room, library, wellness/exercise room, arts and crafts room, scooter storage, bistro and laundry facility on each floor.
Residents receive two meals daily, access to recreational activities including exercise and art and craft classes, and assistance with light housekeeping and laundry. Staff are on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The building is owned by Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association, which also manages the building in partnership with ScandiaCare.
Partners and Funding:
Total capital cost is approximately $17.5 million:
The development includes a commercial kitchen, dining room, lounge, bathing room spa, TV room, library, wellness/exercise room, arts and crafts room, scooter storage, bistro and laundry facility on each floor.
Residents receive two meals daily, access to recreational activities including exercise and art and craft classes, and assistance with light housekeeping and laundry. Staff are on hand 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The building is owned by Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association, which also manages the building in partnership with ScandiaCare.
Partners and Funding:
Total capital cost is approximately $17.5 million:
-
$10,630,000 was provided through the new Federal-Provincial Housing initiative, a partnership between the Government of Canada and the B.C. government under the Investment in Affordable Housing agreement. In addition, the Government of Canada provided $22,836 in Proposal Development Funding toward the project and the B.C. government provided construction financing of $4 million for the 18 private-pay apartments.
-
The Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association provided the land valued at $2,314,000 in addition to equity of nearly $200,000.
-
The City of Burnaby provided $355,000 for the project.
Operational funding:
-
The B.C. government is providing approximately $277,000 in annual subsidy for 46 apartments and $673,000 annually for personal care services through Fraser Health.
Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association
Established in 1947, the Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association works towards providing quality care to the aged and less fortunate by providing comfortable housing for seniors in Burnaby.
Established in 1947, the Swedish Canadian Rest Home Association works towards providing quality care to the aged and less fortunate by providing comfortable housing for seniors in Burnaby.
Media Contact:
Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445
Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445