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NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release Jan. 21, 2010 |
Ministry of Housing
and Social Development
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$18.5-MILLION SUPPORTIVE HOUSING BREAKS GROUND IN VANCOUVER
VANCOUVER – An $18.5-million supportive housing development on West 17th Ave. officially broke ground today to provide 51 apartments for people who are homeless, announced Housing and Social Development Minister Rich Coleman.
“We are committed to working with our partners to build affordable housing with onsite support services so British Columbians in need have opportunities to break the cycle of homelessness,” said Coleman. “The Dunbar Apartments will provide people with new, accessible and safe places to live.”
“Our council is committed to developing housing with integrated support services across Vancouver,” said Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of Vancouver. “By working closely with the provincial government and our community partners to develop buildings like this, we’re providing support for people who need it the most, and in the process moving closer towards our goal of ending street homelessness in our city by 2015.”
Located at 3595 West 17th Ave., the Dunbar Apartments is the sixth site to break ground under an agreement between the Province and the City of Vancouver.
The Province is investing $10.4 million in capital infrastructure. The City of Vancouver is contributing $8.1 million through a combination of land, grants and development cost waivers. Through this partnership, the building will be owned by the Province on land leased from the City on a 60-year term. Both the Province and Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) will be providing operational funding towards support services.
“We collaborate with a variety of organizations to benefit the greater health of communities we serve,” said Allyson Muir, manager, Mental Health and Addictions Housing, VCH. “This partnership with the Province, City and societies is a perfect avenue for us to extend our reach and provide services to those most at risk in our region.”
Coast Mental Health (Coast) will manage and operate Dunbar Apartments, providing social housing and support services for formerly homeless adults living in Vancouver. Residents will receive life skills training, programs on cooking and nutrition, budgeting, and basic hygiene, gaining the necessary skills to move towards living independently.
“Since 1972 we have assisted people in their recovery from mental illness by providing supportive housing, community outreach, rehabilitative social and recreational opportunities, and life skills training,” said Darrell Burnham, executive director, Coast. “We are pleased to see this much-needed development break ground today and we look forward to working with our service partners to fully support these newest Dunbar community members, as we do in many other neighbourhoods in Greater Vancouver.”
Two societies are partnering with Coast to provide housing and supports to specific clients. St. George’s Place Society will provide tailored support to low-income individuals with physical disabilities housed in four wheelchair-accessible apartments. The Yaffa Housing Society will assist five individuals who are Jewish and require additional supports, and will operate a small Kosher kitchen on the ground floor of the building.
“Our society was formed to build affordable housing for people with disabilities and partner with community organizations to provide affordable and accessible housing,” said Katherine Taylor, St. George’s Place Society. “We value the opportunity to partner with Coast in providing housing for individuals with a range of disabilities, including low income individuals who need wheelchair accessible housing.”
“We are pleased to provide our services and Jewish traditions so more members of our Jewish community can benefit from the expansion of our services,” said Bob Huber, president of Yaffa Housing Society. “When complete this development will quickly become an integral part of this community.”
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.
Visit www.bchousing.org/breakingthecycle for more information.
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Media Contact: |
Rhonda Nguyen BC Housing 604 439-4740 604 374-8301 (cell)
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Corporate Communications City of Vancouver Media Line 604 871-6336
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BACKGROUNDER
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For Immediate Release Jan. 21, 2010 |
Ministry of Housing
and Social Development
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DUNBAR APARTMENTS
The Dunbar Apartments, at 3595 West 17th Ave., in Vancouver, will provide 51 units of housing with integrated support services for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
The four-storey building will feature 51 self-contained studio apartments including four wheelchair-accessible units and one level of underground parking. The ground floor will consist of commercial rental space managed by the City of Vancouver and a small Kosher kitchen supported by Yaffa Housing Society.
The development has been designed to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification standards.
Partners and Funding:
The total capital cost of this development is approximately $18.5 million:
Operations funding:
COAST MENTAL HEALTH
Coast Mental Health (Coast) is a non-profit organization established in 1974 and accredited with the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation. Coast improves the lives of people with a mental illness by providing practical and pragmatic help such as housing, jobs, community, rehabilitative social and recreational opportunities, food, clothing and basic life skills training.
ST. GEORGE’S PLACE SOCIETY
Established in 1994, St. George’s Place Society was formed to build affordable housing for people with disabilities and families on land owned by the church, and to seek opportunities, in partnership with community organizations, to provide affordable and accessible housing.
YAFFA HOUSING SOCIETY
Yaffa Housing Society was established in 2001 to provide a centre for mental health education, recreation and support within the Jewish community, while providing supportive housing opportunities that would maximize an individual resident’s potential, growth, personal fulfilment and independence.
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Media Contact:
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Rhonda Nguyen BC Housing 604 439-4740 604 374-8301 (cell)
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Corporate Communications City of Vancouver Media Line 604 871-6336
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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.
