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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release Jan. 13, 2010 |
Ministry of Housing and Social Development
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32 NEW SHELTER BEDS OPEN FOR HOMELESS YOUTH
VANCOUVER – The newly renovated and expanded Covenant House shelter and resource centre now provides 32 new transitional housing beds with support services for homeless and at-risk youth, ages 16 to 22, at its Pender Street location, announced Rich Coleman, Minister of Housing and Social Development.
“Young people are the future of our Province and we understand the importance of providing at-risk youth with more access to housing and support services,” said Coleman. “The expansion of Covenant House will help to get more homeless youth off the streets and into a secure, stable environment so they can lead healthier lives.”
“Our government is helping Canadians with housing needs get a hand up so they can break free from the cycle of homelessness and poverty,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “Through this investment, the Covenant House Vancouver will help youth who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in Vancouver by providing transitional housing and supportive services.”
The Province of British Columbia provided an $850,000 grant toward the renovations and will provide up to $3.9 million in operational funding over the next three years. The Government of Canada, through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) provided an $800,000 grant and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games (VANOC) provided $250,000 as part of their Olympic Legacies program.
“VANOC is proud to be a partner in this significant expansion of the Covenant House shelter,” said Donna Wilson, executive vice-president of people and sustainability for the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. “This investment provides a permanent housing legacy that will offer at-risk youth both shelter and support to move forward in their lives.”
“Covenant House is a valuable resource for Vancouver’s vulnerable young people and plays an enormous role in helping street youth find employment and a place to call home,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of Vancouver. “This expansion will help provide more safety and security for homeless youth in our city, and will play an important role in our efforts to end street homelessness by 2015.”
Covenant House manages and operates facilities that provide shelter, food, clothing and counselling to 1,900 young people each year. For homeless youth who have the opportunity to receive Covenant House support services, an estimated 65 per cent go on to live independent lives.
“The addition of these 32 transitional housing beds allows us to offer support to more young people, helping them overcome the barriers that are preventing their independence and significantly reducing the number of youth previously turned away due to lack of space,” said Krista Thompson, executive director, Covenant House. “We applaud all of our partners – the Province, VANOC, and the Government of Canada - for their unified commitment to addressing the issue of homelessness and for the progress being made to help youth with nowhere else to call home.”
The $250-million Housing Endowment Fund was established in 2007. The fund generates investment revenue, which is used to fund new ideas and support innovative housing solutions that meet the diverse housing needs of British Columbians.
In 2009-10, the Province's budget for social housing is approximately $450 million, more than three times as much as in 2001.
‘Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness’ is a website providing a comprehensive and detailed look at provincial programs and services to address homelessness.
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A backgrounder follows.
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Media Contact:
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Rachel Nelken BC Housing 778 452-2719 604 505-8428 (cell)
City of Vancouver Corporate Communications 604 871.6336 |
National Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada 819 994-5559 |
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
BACKGROUNDER
Jan. 13, 2010 Ministry of Housing and Social Development
COVENANT HOUSE – PENDER STREET WEST
Covenant House’s newly renovated and expanded development, located at 326 Pender St. West in Vancouver, now provides 32 transitional housing beds with support services for homeless and at-risk youth.
The expansion of Covenant House’s program, including renovations of the four-storey, wood-frame building started in April 2008 and was completed in April 2009. Fourteen bachelor apartments were converted to the 32 transitional housing beds, a communal kitchen, lounge area and offices for program staff and support services.
Covenant House provides a safe environment for young people to improve aspects of their lives. Support services offered will include:
Partners and Funding:
The capital cost of this development is approximately $1.9 million.
· The City of Vancouver owns the land and leases to Covenant House.
Operational funding includes:
Covenant House
Covenant House is Vancouver’s largest non-profit provider of housing and other services to homeless and at-risk youth. They provide services to 1,900 young people each year, including homeless outreach, drop-in programs, transitional housing, mental health counselling, a longer-term semi-independent residential program, life-skills training, substance abuse treatment and prevention, and recreation programs.
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