ASSISTED LIVING UNITS OPEN TO BENEFIT VICTORIA SENIORS

VICTORIA – Provincial and community partners gathered today to celebrate the opening of Marrion Village, a new seniors’ housing development that includes 38 subsidized assisted living units, along with market housing units.

“This government recognizes seniors’ needs for more housing and care options,” said Ida Chong, Minister of Community Services and Minister responsible for Seniors’ and Women’s Issues, and MLA for Oak Bay-Gordon Head. “We are working in conjunction with our partners to ensure Victoria area seniors have access to safe and affordable housing in their own communities.”

Marrion Village is operated by the Baptist Housing Society of BC and funded by Independent Living BC, a housing-for-health program that meets the needs of seniors and people with disabilities by providing a middle option between home support and residential care. Assisted living units are self-contained apartments where residents receive meals, housekeeping and laundry services, a 24-hour response system, and assistance with medications.

“Advancements in medicine and technology are helping us to live longer and healthier lives, and we have a higher expectation of independence and quality of life,” said Jac Kreut, board chair for the Vancouver Island Health Authority. “Assisted living gives our seniors the opportunity to live independently, receive assistance with personal care needs and socialize with other seniors.”

Howard Johnson, CEO of the Baptist Housing Society of BC, says his organization is happy Marrion Village will add to the range of housing options for seniors in the Oak Bay neighbourhood. “Our mission is to provide comfortable homes and excellent care for seniors,” he said. “Marrion Village will help us to meet the growing need for affordable and supportive seniors’ housing.”
These new units are part of the British Columbia government’s commitment to provide 5,000 net-new residential care beds, assisted living units, and supportive housing with home support units by the end of 2008. To date, 8,839 new and replacement beds and units have been built, including 3,411 net-new.

The Province of British Columbia is committed to providing more than 4,000 affordable assisted living apartments for B.C. seniors and persons with disabilities. To date, more than 3,900 have been allocated in communities across the province. The Province’s budget for shelters and affordable housing is $328 million – nearly triple what it was in 2001.

 

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BACKGROUNDER
MARRION VILLAGE

Marrion Village is a mix of subsidized and market housing units at 1976 Bee Street in Victoria. A seven-storey tower contains 56 one-bedroom assisted living units, of which 38 are subsidized under the Independent Living BC program.

Tenants have access to meals, housekeeping and linen services, 24-hour emergency response, personal care services, and social and recreational opportunities. The development is close to a seniors’ centre, shopping, recreation facilities, and medical offices.

Partners and Funding:
The capital cost of this project is $32.5 million, which includes:

Operating costs for the project will be provided as follows:

Baptist Housing Society of BC:
The Baptist Housing Society of BC, a member of Baptist Housing Ministries, manages this facility. The Society was founded by Dr. Jack Pickford in 1964 when he recognized the need for housing among the elderly within their own communities. Now in its 43rd year, Baptist Housing Ministries has grown to approximately 1,400 residents in 13 seniors’ communities in several locations across the province. The Society has a number of seniors’ facilities, including independent residences, independent residences with supportive services, assisted living residences and complex care residences in B.C. that are partially funded by the Province.