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Ministry of Forests and Range and |
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PROVINCE INVESTS $4.9M TO PROTECT AFFORDABLE
HOUSING |
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NEW
WESTMINSTER – The Province is
purchasing the 59-unit College Place Hotel in downtown New Westminster for $4.9
million to protect affordable housing for British Columbians in need, Minister
responsible for Housing Rich Coleman announced today.
“This
is a good opportunity to preserve a much-needed housing option for people on
low incomes in New Westminster who might otherwise face the possibility of
being homeless,” said Coleman. “Current residents can continue living in the
building as long as they want, and we will be doing repairs and upgrades to
make it a better place to live.”
On
Jan. 11, the Province will assume ownership of the building, located at 740
Carnarvon Street. An experienced non-profit organization, Lookout Emergency Aid
Society, will manage and operate the building. Some of the existing units will
be converted to allow for the establishment of 15 emergency shelter beds,
starting on April 1. This will be done over time as vacancies arise through
natural attrition.
“This
is good news as we continue work to address the issues surrounding homelessness
and affordable housing for the residents of the city who need assistance,” said
New Westminster Mayor Wayne Wright, a member of the Premier’s Task Force on
Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions. “It is
important that New Westminster residents have access to subsidized housing, and
this initiative will help the City to reach those goals.”
“Our
experience operating the Cliff Block transitional housing development in New
Westminster has identified a clear need for shelter beds and other housing
options for people facing homelessness,” said Karen O’Shannacery, executive
director of Lookout Emergency Aid Society. “This purchase will make a real
difference in people’s lives, and we are looking forward to making sure the
College Place Hotel is a good place for people to live.”
The
purchase is being made under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative, an
integral part of the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC. The
strategy includes a commitment to create more than 2,300 supportive housing
units as a continuation of the ongoing work of the Premier’s Task Force on Homelessness,
Mental Illness and Addictions.
The
Province’s 2007/08 budget for shelters and affordable housing is $360 million,
triple what it was in 2001. Copies of the housing strategy can be downloaded
from www.housing.gov.bc.ca.
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contact: |
Manager, Public Affairs BC Housing 604 439-4789 |
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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