The
partnership between the Province, the City of Vancouver
and the Streetohome Foundation will provide $1.5 million to create up to 200
temporary shelter beds at three locations across Vancouver.
This
short-term response complements other provincial housing strategies already
underway in Vancouver, including the Province’s
purchase of the SRO hotels in the past year – an important step in preserving a
valuable stock of affordable housing in Vancouver.
This key piece is further supplemented by the Province’s partnering with the
City of Vancouver
at 14 new supportive housing developments that will make another 1,400 units
available to those who need supported living accommodations.
- Emergency Shelter Program
(ESP): The Province provides nearly $17 million in funding to emergency
shelters in Vancouver,
including more than $10 million to the Downtown Eastside (DTES) and the
immediate vicinity to support 441 emergency beds at 10 shelters. The
Extreme Weather Response makes an additional 500 spaces available in the Vancouver area.
- Homelessness Outreach Program
(HOP): The Province offers outreach services to connect people who are
homeless or have mental health or addictions issues with housing, income
assistance, health care, and other supports. The Province has supported
this outreach commitment with over $970,000 in funding.
- Single-room occupancy (SRO)
hotels: To date, the Province has purchased 17 Vancouver SRO hotels,
protecting a total of 1,035 units of affordable housing for those in
greatest need. Of these, 937 units are located in the Downtown Eastside.
Prior to 2001, the previous administration had acquired only two SRO
hotels in the DTES, the Washington and Sunrise hotels – a total of 144 rooms.
- Affordable Housing with
Integrated Support Services: In addition to the 1,400 new units created
in partnership with the City of Vancouver, over the next few years, 455
units of supportive housing are expected to be completed in the DTES with
operational start dates from 2008 - 2010. These projects include: Covenant
House (32 units-W Pender St), the Pennsylvania Hotel (44 units-Carrall
St), More Than a Roof (87 units-Richard Street), the former Woodward’s
site (200 units), and the Lux (92 units at 55-65 E Hastings). In addition, 117 units will
become available on East Hastings through
Doorways of Hope with Union Gospel Mission.
The
Province currently provides more than $15.7 million annually to subsidize 5,466
units of social and supportive housing, managed by non-profit societies,
housing co-ops, or BC Housing, in the DTES. This annual subsidy is more than
double the amount provided in 2001, and nearly double the 2,951 units of DTES
social and supportive housing at that time.
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