PROVINCE AND VANOC PARTNER TO HOUSE SECHELT HOMELESS

SECHELT – An agreement between the Province of British Columbia and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) will create up to eight new units of permanent affordable housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Sechelt, Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development, announced today.

“The provincial government is committed to help break the cycle of homelessness in communities across this province by providing Olympic Legacy Affordable Housing for people who need it most,” said Coleman. “This housing will be a stable support base for people in Sechelt who are working to improve their lives and create better opportunities.”

Almost two years in the making, this agreement is made possible from the participation of a number of government and corporate partners. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Province and VANOC proposes to reconfigure 320 temporary modular housing units from the Olympic and Paralympic Village at Whistler, and relocate and convert them into 156 permanent, affordable housing units to six communities across the province: Sechelt, Chetwynd, Chilliwack, Enderby, Saanich and Surrey.

The total capital cost of the Legacy Project is projected to be approximately $43.6 million. The Sechelt portion of this project will cost approximately $2.6 million, including land contributed by the District of Sechelt valued at approximately $680,000.

“We have an obligation to provide short-term athlete housing as well as a mandate to ensure there are meaningful social, environmental and economic legacies from the 2010 Winter Games,” said John Furlong, chief executive officer, VANOC. “We are pleased to be part of this solution to provide permanent Olympic Legacy Affordable Housing as soon as possible after the close of the 2010 Winter Games.”

Under this MOU, VANOC will design and construct the 320 temporary modular housing units for use in Whistler, which are in addition to the 100-unit lodge and 20-unit townhomes, which will be permanent housing units at the Whistler Athletes Centre in the Olympic and Paralympic Village. The Province will then pay for the design, relocation, site work, and modifications of these temporary modular units into legacy housing in the six communities. The specifications for the design will be agreed upon between the Province, VANOC and local partners and will ensure that the design and construction achieve high sustainable standards to promote energy efficiency and minimize any environmental impact.

VANOC’s construction of temporary modular homes would not be possible without support from two of its Games sponsors: National Partner RONA and Official Supplier Britco. Britco, a Pacific Northwest modular building manufacturer with plants in Agassiz and Penticton, was awarded the contract to design and build the housing for the Olympic and Paralympic Village Whistler in January 2008. Britco’s approach to building construction results in high-quality modular homes which are suitable for long-term use.

Increasing affordable housing, reducing homelessness and helping those who cannot help themselves is a key agenda for the Province of British Columbia. 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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Media contact:	Susan Thom Corporate Communications BC Housing 604 230-1301	Katie Green Media Relations VANOC 778 328-6473

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