VERNON – Fifty-two people who have been homeless in Vernon are about to move into their new homes with around-the-clock supports, to help them regroup and improve their lives.

“A safe home is a critical foundation for recovery, while support services are the building blocks that give strength, purpose and hope so people experiencing homelessness can make a new start,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “The City of Vernon has shown leadership by leaning in to the challenges and working with us to help us build these life-changing homes for people.”

Located at 3500 27th Ave., the newly completed four-storey modular apartment building features 52 units, including three units designed for people with disabilities. Each unit is private with a washroom and kitchenette. The ground floor includes a commercial grade kitchen, common dining area, laundry facilities and support-service rooms. People will start moving into the new homes in mid-June 2019.

“Thank you to BC Housing, the Province and Turning Points Collaborative for coming together to fund and respond to an urgent need for housing in our community for people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness,” said Victor Cumming, mayor, City of Vernon. “My Place will provide an additional 52 new quality and affordable housing units.”

The Turning Points Collaborative Society will operate the building and provide residents with meal programs, life and employment skills training and access to health and wellness support services.

“Imagine that every member of our community has access to safe, quality, affordable housing,” Randene Wejr, co-executive director, Turning Points Collaborative Society. “Thanks to the work of BC Housing, the City of Vernon and community stakeholders, this dream is becoming a reality through housing projects like My Place.”

B.C.-based manufacturer ATCO was selected by the Province to manufacture the modular units in Vernon and several other modular projects in B.C., supporting jobs and local economies.

More than 20,000 new homes are completed or underway throughout B.C as a result of provincial investments, including more than 2,600 new supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness in B.C.

Delivering affordable housing is a shared priority between government and the BC Green Party caucus and is part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement.

Quick Facts:

• The Province invested $11 million for the building and will provide an annual operating subsidy.
• The Province is working in partnership to increase the supply of affordable rental housing throughout Vernon through the Building BC funds. Since 2018, this includes:
  • Community Housing Fund: 78 mixed-income homes; and
  • Rapid Response to Homelessness (modular housing): 98 homes with 24/7 support
• Through the Building BC: Rapid Response to Homelessness program, the Province is investing $291 million to build 2,000 homes around the province and providing annual operating funding to provide 24/7 staffing and support services. More than 1,300 are complete.
• The Building BC: Rapid Response to Homelessness program is expected to create more than 2,000 jobs throughout the province, which includes 1,400 direct jobs and another 650 jobs in supplier industries.

Learn More:

A map showing the location of all announced projects is now available online: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC

Building BC: Rapid Response to Homelessness program: https://www.bchousing.org/partner-services/Building-BC/rapid-response-homelessness

To find out what the Province is doing to improve housing affordability, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-government-addressing-housing-affordability-challenges

Read Homes for B.C., government’s 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians: https://bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf

Two backgrounders follow.

Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
778 698-9176

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604 456-8917

BACKGROUNDER 1

Services and supports provided for modular housing

All new modular housing buildings in the province have around-the-clock staffing to help young people, people with disabilities, seniors and others in critical need of housing.

The Province is providing annual operating funding to help those with the highest housing needs to build new beginnings. Experienced non-profit housing providers will provide support to tenants based on their assessed needs.

Services and supports provided to young people, seniors, people with disabilities and others who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless, include:

• meals;
• connecting residents to community supports, such as education and employment opportunities, and health and wellness services, including mental health and addiction treatment programs;
• individual or group support services, such as life skills, community information and social and recreational programs;
• case planning and needs assessment;
• other supports designed to assist residents in meeting their personal and housing goals, including culturally-specific programs;
• help accessing income assistance, pension benefits, disability benefits, obtaining a B.C. identification card or establishing a bank account;
• support for residents to learn how to operate and maintain a home; and
• no-cost laundry services, either on- or off-site.

Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
778 698-9176

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604 456-8917

BACKGROUNDER 2

Province building new homes to meet full spectrum of housing needs

The B.C. government is working in partnerships to build affordable homes that cover the full spectrum of housing needs for British Columbians.

Budget 2018 included a $7 billion investment in the homes people need. As a result of that investment, more than 20,000 new homes are completed, under construction or in the approvals process for a range of people that are struggling to find a place to live, from people who are experiencing homelessness and seniors on fixed incomes, to middle-income families, students and individuals.

Housing for middle-income earners (households with annual incomes between $50,000 and $150,000) – approximately 2,460 homes:

• Building BC: Community Housing Fund: approximately 1,500 rental homes for people with middle incomes.
• HousingHub: 960 rental homes.

Housing for people with low to moderate incomes (including some where rents are based on 30% of household income and others with set rents, which are designed to be affordable to moderate-income households, in most cases earning less that $70,000 annually) – approximately 9,200 homes:

• Building BC: Community Housing Fund: approximately 3,700 rental homes for people with low to moderate incomes.
• Affordable Rental Housing Program: nearly 1,600 homes for low to moderate incomes.
• Deepening Affordability Fund: more than 2,100 homes for low to moderate incomes.
• Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund: more than 1,150 homes for Indigenous peoples, on and off reserve.
• Regional Housing First Program: more than 600 homes for people with low to moderate incomes.

Housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness (shelter-rate housing) – approximately 2,800 homes:

• Rapid Response for Homelessness: more than 2,000 homes with 24/7 support.
• Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund: more than 550 homes with 24/7 support.
• Regional Housing First Program: more than 170 homes for those ready to live independently with supports.

Housing for women and children leaving violence – approximately 340 homes:

• Building BC: Women’s Transition Housing Fund: approximately 340 spaces of transition, second-stage and affordable rental housing for women and children leaving violence.

Housing for students – approximately 5,600 homes:

• BC Student Housing Loan Program: approximately 2,700 on-campus student housing units are underway or in the approvals process.
• Nearly 2,900 student housing units are also underway or in development through partnerships with post-secondary institutions.

Total: approximately 20,400 homes

Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
778 698-9176

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604 456-8917