OPERATORS SELECTED FOR SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN VICTORIA

VICTORIA – Non-profit organizations have been selected to manage three separate social housing sites in Victoria, Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman announced today.

“Working in partnership with these three societies will bring the Province one step closer to breaking the cycle of homelessness,” said Coleman. “These developments provide 99 units of supportive social housing for those in greatest need.”

Pacifica Housing Advisory Association (PHAA) has been selected to manage the Gorge Waterway Apartments, located at 246 Gorge Road East, providing 51 units of supportive housing. PHAA manages over 550 units of affordable housing for low-income families and people with disabilities in the Greater Victoria and Nanaimo regions. PHAA also offers housing outreach and support services for individuals who are considered hard to house or at risk of homelessness.

“We are committed to providing innovative, affordable housing opportunities and client-centred support to people in greatest need,” said PPHA executive director Karyn French. “The Gorge Waterway Apartments combines housing with on-site support services to improve the quality of life for the residents by helping to integrate them back into their community.”

The Cridge Centre for the Family has been selected to manage Magdelaine Court, providing 20 units of supportive housing. The Cridge Centre provides service primarily to the Greater Victoria community with a priority on those in crisis. They offer transitional family housing to various populations in need or crisis in a supportive community setting.

“Magdelaine Court offers safe and stable housing with emphasis on self-reliance and greater independence for individuals who are facing homelessness,” said the Cridge Centre CEO, Shelley Morris. “We can also provide much-needed supportive housing for families and individuals who are couch-surfing, living in flop-houses, migrating to the street or back into unsafe domestic situations.”

Welcome House Immigrant and Refugee Society (WHIRS) has been selected to manage Queens Court, located at 1134 Queens Ave., providing 28 units of supportive housing. WHIRS is working in partnership with PHAA, Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria, Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society, and Community Living Victoria.

“Our focus is to provide safe, supportive, affordable housing to immigrant and refugee women and their children who are in financial need and at risk of homelessness,” said WHIRS vice president, Ray Travers. “By working with the Province and various community partners, Queens Court will help us reach our goal, one person at a time.”

The selection of these non-profit societies was the result of several Expression of Interest calls for proposals that were issued earlier this year.

The funding for these developments was provided by the Province through the Provincial Homelessness Initiative. Budget 2008 increased the amount the Province invests in affordable housing and shelters to more than $400 million a year, more than three times as much as in 2001.

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1 backgrounder(s) attached.

Media

contact:

Rachel Nelken

BC Housing

604 439-4183

604 505-8428 (cell)

Phil Ward

Pacifica Housing Advisory Association

250 356-2555

Greg Hatton

The Cridge Centre

250 995-6419

Ray Travers

Welcome House Immigrant and Refugee Society

250 477-8479

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