NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release 2008FOR0076-000761 May 15, 2008	Ministry of Forests and Range and Minister responsible for Housing
PROVINCE HELPS CREATE NEW SENIORS’ HOUSING ON HORNBY

HORNBY ISLAND – A $95,000 grant from the Province’s Housing Endowment Fund has resulted in the opening of four new seniors’ housing units on Hornby Island.

                                                                                                               

“The Province’s partnership with the Hornby Island Elder Housing Society is providing seniors with affordable housing that allows them to remain on the island they call home,” said Comox Valley MLA Stan Hagen. “The new homes have been designed to accommodate seniors’ needs and achieve high energy efficiency, and their construction also contributed to a strong sense of community.”  

 

The grant enabled the Society to facilitate the construction of two duplexes with a total of four units, which they accomplished with significant amounts of volunteer labour. The new duplexes join seven existing seniors’ housing units on a five-acre property known as The Village. The Society developed The Village to provide Island seniors with opportunities to continue to live in the community they have created and fostered.

 

“This new partnership with the Province has enabled us to complete a major expansion of The Village, and address a continuing community need for seniors’ affordable housing in a timely way,” said Jack Hansed, president of the Hornby Island Elder Housing Society.

 

            The $250-million Housing Endowment Fund was established in the 2007 provincial budget. The fund generates investment revenue of approximately $10 million a year, which is used to fund new ideas and support innovative housing solutions that meet the diverse housing needs of British Columbians. Through the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC, the Province is investing more than $380 million in shelters and affordable housing this year, more than three times as much as in 2001.

 

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.
Media contact:	Rhonda Nguyen BC Housing 604 439-4740 604 374-8301 (cell)	Jack Hansed President Hornby Island Elder Housing Society 250 335-1048
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