PROVINCE FAST-TRACKS NEW HOUSING FOR SURREY HOMELESS

April 14th, 2008

SURREY - Premier Gordon Campbell today announced plans to create up to 172 new supportive housing units and 20 new sobering beds in Surrey.

The Province and the City of Surrey have agreed to create up to 106 new supportive housing units, to be built by 2010, on two City-owned sites. The Province will also purchase two existing buildings, which will provide an additional 66 supportive housing units.

“The Province is committed to breaking the cycle of homelessness, both by partnering with the City of Surrey to expedite new supportive housing and by purchasing existing properties to provide more immediate housing for those in greatest need,” said Campbell. “These four sites will help address homelessness in Surrey, and we look forward to more housing and support services to come.”

“The City of Surrey is proactively responding to the issue of homelessness by providing these two City-owned sites,” said Surrey mayor Dianne Watts. “By partnering with the Province to expedite these sites, we are committed to creating affordable, supportive housing for people living in Surrey who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.”

The first City-owned property, 13670 94A Ave., will provide supportive housing to men and women requiring drug and alcohol treatment and rehabilitation and/or who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. The development will include a 20-bed sobering centre, up to 30 units of stabilization and transitional housing, up to 40 units of supportive housing, and space for outreach addictions services and a mental health clinic. A proposal call seeking applications from non-profit societies to manage and operate the housing component will be undertaken shortly by the Province.

The second City-owned property, 13775-95 70th Ave., will be developed with about 36 self-contained supportive housing units for women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This development will be operated by YWCA Vancouver.

“While everyone needs safe, affordable housing, women with dependent children are especially vulnerable when they are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless,” said Janet Austin, chief executive officer of YWCA Vancouver. “With this development, the YWCA will be able to provide a safe home and the necessary support services to help residents make a successful transition to economic independence.”

Under the terms of a memorandum of understanding agreement between the City of Surrey and the Province, the Province will pay all pre-development costs to design the two developments through to the issuance of development and building permits. The City has agreed to provide these sites and to ensure the approval process is expedited in a timely fashion.

Two additional properties with existing units are being purchased by the Province for $5.4 million to provide more immediate access to supportive housing. The first property, 13630-32 110A Ave., will be operated by Cwenengitel Aboriginal Society as a 12-person recovery house for Aboriginal men who have been through addictions treatment. The second property, 13245 King George Hwy., will be operated by Fraserside Community Services Society and provide 54 units of supportive housing.

The City of Surrey is the fourth community to partner with the Province by providing land on which to create new supportive housing developments. The other communities are Vancouver, Victoria and Kelowna.

The Province’s contribution to pay for predevelopment costs is part of the Provincial Homelessness Initiative, which has committed to the creation of more than 4,000 new and upgraded supportive housing units across B.C. Budget 2008 increased the amount the Province invests in affordable housing and shelters to more than $380 million a year, more than three times as much as in 2001.

Details on this initiative can be found at:
www.bchousing.org/programs/homelessness/municipal_approvals

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BACKGROUNDER

The memorandum of understanding between the Province and the City of Surrey commits to the construction of up to 106 units of new social and supportive housing, as well as 20 sobering beds in Surrey. The new housing developments will be created on two City-owned sites, one on 70th Avenue and the other on 94A Avenue.

In addition, up to 66 units of social and supportive housing will be created from the provincial purchase of two buildings, one on 110A Avenue and the other on King George Highway.

13670 94A Avenue

This site is City-owned and currently used as a parking lot. New construction will provide 20 sobering beds, 24 to 30 stabilization and transitional housing units, 35 to 40 supportive housing units and outreach addictions services and a mental health clinic.
The Province will issue a proposal call this summer to select a non-profit housing organization to operate the housing component.
The City will lease this site to the successful proponent for a nominal fee for a period of 60 years.
The City will exempt the site from property taxes as long as it continues to provide housing and services for people who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness.
The building will be designed to LEED Gold or equivalent standards.

13775-95 70th Avenue

This site is City-owned and currently vacant.
New construction will provide 36 self-contained, supportive housing units for women and children and space for support services.
YWCA Vancouver will be the non-profit operator.
The City will lease the site to the YWCA for a nominal fee for a period of 60 years.
The City will exempt the site from property taxes as long as it continues to provide housing and support services for people who would otherwise be at risk of homelessness.
The building will be designed to LEED Gold or equivalent standards.

13630-32 110A Avenue

This site has two separate six-person homes and was purchased for $660,000.
Cwenengitel Aboriginal Society is the non-profit operator.
The site is operating as a 12 person recovery house for Aboriginal men who have been through addictions treatment.

13245 King George Highway

This site is currently operating as a Howard Johnson motel. The purchase price of the King George property is $4.75 million.
Fraserside Community Services Society has been selected as the non-profit society to manage and operate this development.
The site will provide 39 transitional housing units, plus 15 units of supportive housing funded by the Fraser Health Authority.
Subjects were removed on the purchase of this property on March 31, 2008 with completion pending on April 30, 2008.

Memorandum Process

The memorandum of understanding is signed by the Province and the City on April 14, 2008.
The Province will pay all costs to design the housing through to the issuance of development and building permits, including consultant fees and disbursements for the three sites.
The Province will arrange all capital and operating funding.
The City will provide the land for redevelopment.
The City will designate a staff member to ensure the municipal approval process is expedited.

YWCA Vancouver
YWCA Vancouver is a registered charity, providing a range of integrated services for women, youth and children, and those seeking to improve the quality of their lives. From housing, child care and support to innovative employment, wellness and leadership programs, YWCA Vancouver touches lives in communities across the Lower Mainland.

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Media contact:
Patricia Morrison
Senior Communications Specialist
BC Housing
604 314-1458

Bridgitte Anderson
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
604 307-7177

Joel Giebelhaus
Special Assistant to the Mayor
City of Surrey
604 591-4192

April Fahr
Marketing & Communications Manager
YWCA Vancouver
604 895-5829

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