Opening new supportive homes in Surrey

People experiencing or at risk of homelessness will soon be moving into new homes with supports

Summary

  • Bentley Place provides 60 new supportive homes in Surrey
  • Residents living at the nearby Safe Sleep temporary supportive-housing site will soon be moving into Bentley Place

SURREY - People experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Surrey have access to 60 new homes with supports with the opening of Bentley Place, a new supportive-housing building.

"Supportive homes help bring people indoors, where they can have access to supports and get connected to services that will help them," said Christine Boyle, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. "These homes will go a long way to ensure more people in Surrey are getting the care and support they need when they fall on hard times. We know our communities are stronger and more connected when we take care of each other and we are committed to building homes that create full, complete communities."

The new six-storey building at 13559 Bentley Rd. is just off King George Boulevard, a short walk from Gateway SkyTrain station.

On-site supports by an experienced provider

Phoenix Society, an experienced non-profit housing provider based in Surrey, will operate the building and provide the following services:

  • 24/7 staffing
  • daily meals
  • life skills and employment training
  • access to health supports
  • connections to community services

There are also security measures in place, such as well-lit and fenced grounds, camera monitoring and a controlled single point of entry.

The building will also include dining areas in addition to indoor and outdoor lounge spaces. Residents of the building will have extensive services available through the downtown Surrey area, including the Chuck Bailey Recreation Centre and the Surrey North Community Health Centre.

"We know people experiencing homelessness need warm, safe indoor places to go during a time of need and I'm thrilled to see these homes open in my community," said Amna Shah, MLA for Surrey-City Centre. "These homes will immediately help people experiencing homelessness in Surrey find good places to live where they can stabilize their lives through support services and connection. I'm grateful to all partners for their work on making these homes a reality."

Supportive housing is a vital and proven way to help vulnerable people come indoors and access supports that lead to better health outcomes, improve physical and mental health for residents and build safer, stronger communities for everyone.

Strong partnerships

These homes were made possible by leadership and strong partnerships between the Province, through BC Housing, the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the City of Surrey and Phoenix Society.

The Province contributed approximately $18.5 million from the Supportive Housing Fund, along with approximately $2.4 million in annual operating funding.

The City of Surrey bought the land for Bentley Place, valued at approximately $1.8 million, and secured approximately $11.4 million in Government of Canada funding from the Rapid Housing Initiative for the homes. The city also waived development cost charges of more than $500,000.

This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has more than 95,000 homes that have been delivered or are underway, including nearly 2,700 homes in Surrey.

Quotes:

Randeep Sarai, MP for Surrey Centre -

"Bentley Place is an example of the success that can be achieved when all orders of government work with private organizations to build homes that meet the unique needs of a community. The federal government's investment of more than $11 million will help ensure that the most vulnerable Surrey residents have a safe, secure home with the supports they need to thrive."

Brenda Locke, mayor of Surrey -

"Access to safe, supportive housing remains one of the most pressing challenges facing our city. Surrey is proud to support projects like Bentley Place, contributing land and funding to help make this project happen. These homes will help people move toward stability, with the supports they need to rebuild their lives."

Justine Patterson, CEO of Phoenix Society -

"Bentley Place means 60 people in Surrey will now have a permanent place to call home, with the supports they need to stay housed and improve their health. Supportive housing works because housing is healthcare - it helps people access care, keeps people safe and creates stronger, more resilient communities."

Quick Facts:

  • Since 2017, the Province has more than 9,900 supportive homes delivered or underway.
  • This includes nearly 800 supportive homes delivered or underway in Surrey since 2017.

Learn More:

Contacts
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs
Media Relations
[email protected]
BC Housing
Media Relations
[email protected]