FIRST SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR GULF ISLANDS

SALT SPRING ISLAND – Provincial and community partners gathered today for the official opening of a new $5-million housing development for individuals and families at risk of homelessness.

The 27 units are funded under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative, which aims to break the cycle of homelessness by integrating support services with housing.

“Murakami Gardens Community Housing is the first housing for low-income families and individuals for Salt Spring,” said Saanich North and the Islands MLA Murray Coell. “Homelessness is an issue that reaches into all areas of the province, and this housing is an important first step for our community as we work towards providing a healthier future for those in greatest need.”

Murakami Gardens is the result of partnerships between all three levels of government, the Capital Regional District, the Murakami family, the Real Estate Foundation of B.C. and Salt Spring Island Community Services.

“Homelessness and affordable housing are important issues facing our community,” said Gary Holman, director of the Capital Regional Housing Trust Fund. “Murakami Gardens is a great start to building housing that meets the needs of Salt Spring residents.”

Richard and Rose Murakami initiated this project as a tribute to their late parents, Katsuyori and Kimiko, who, because of their Japanese ancestry, were forced to leave their Salt Spring Island farm in 1942 and interned in camps in the Interior of B.C. In 1954, the Murakamis returned permanently to Salt Spring Island – the only exiled family to do so – to find their farm had been confiscated and sold without their consent. Since they had been forced to pay for their own internment, they returned impoverished with just enough money to buy a different piece of scrub land.

The Murakamis started all over again, clearing the land and creating a market garden of vegetables and berries. During this time of intense hardship, Salt Spring citizens and regular summer visitors supported the Murakamis to re-establish themselves by enthusiastically buying their produce. Richard and Rose view their donation of land to the project as a way of acknowledging this support and giving back to the Salt Spring community.

“We can identify with people in our community who are homeless or living in substandard housing,” said Rose Murakami. “We were forced to live in degrading, dehumanizing and even life-threatening situations. With the support of many partners Murakami Gardens Community Housing is now built, providing housing for citizens whose incomes do not permit them access to appropriate rental housing currently available on Salt Spring Island.”

The Province also provided funding to incorporate energy-efficient features. Murakami Gardens Community Housing will be operated by Salt Spring Island Community Services and also links residents to appropriate community, social and health services.

“Today we are celebrating a milestone – the opening of the first affordable housing for families on Salt Spring,” said Rob Grant, executive director of Salt Spring Island Community Services. “It would not have been possible without bringing together so many different partners to work towards a common goal. Affordable housing will continue to be a community challenge but now we know it can be done if we pull together.”

The Province has committed to creating more than 4,000 new housing units under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative. The Province’s budget for shelters and affordable housing is $400 million – more than three times what it was in 2001.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.

Media

contact:

Darija Tomasic

BC Housing

604 456-8845

604 374-4534

Rob Grant

Executive Director

Salt Spring Island Community Services

250 537-9971

Gary Holman

Capital Regional District

250 653-2075

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