10
September
2019
|
11:54 AM
America/Los_Angeles

New homes with supports open in Maple Ridge

MAPLE RIDGE - New homes with wraparound services are now open in Maple Ridge, providing an opportunity for stable housing for people who have lived at the Anita Place encampment and others experiencing homelessness in the area.

"The opening of this supportive housing provides a real solution to a situation that went on for too long in this community," said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "Housing with wraparound support services included is already helping people from homeless camps in Surrey, Chilliwack, Vancouver and right across B.C., and I know it will contribute to a strong, connected community here in Maple Ridge."

New research released from housing operators of the first seven modular supportive housing buildings in Vancouver and Surrey provides evidence of the value of these buildings. The research found that the housing-first model employed by BC Housing is substantially improving the quality of life of residents, as people experiencing homelessness are provided with a stable place to live and the wraparound services they need. The reports summarize data collected six months after the buildings opened.

"These results show that our approach is working," Robinson said. "When people have a place to call home, surrounded by the care and supports they need, they feel the dignity, confidence and hope needed to be able to make positive change in their lives."

Coast Mental Health will operate the building, named Garibaldi Ridge, and provide 24/7 on-site support to the residents.

The three-storey wood-frame building has indoor amenity space, a commercial kitchen, dining and lounge area, laundry, clinical space and storage areas. Supports for residents include outreach workers, wellness checks, life-skills training, employment programs and referrals to community services and support groups. Residents will be connected to primary health care as well as mental health and addiction recovery services. Coast Mental Health will employ 16 full- time support workers, including an on-site program manager and metal health workers, who will assess residents and provide referrals to Fraser Health Authority and other clinical programming. At least two staff members will be on-site at all times.

"Coast Mental Health continues to grow because of our specialized expertise and community- based support services in mental health," Darrell Burnham, CEO, Coast Mental Health. "We take a holistic approach to caring for our clients that includes housing, support services and when our clients are ready, life skills, training and employment. With our community partners, we have made significant strides in reducing homelessness in Maple Ridge, with a total of 150 homes that include on-site 24/7 support services for vulnerable people who proudly call Maple Ridge home."

On-site nursing staff, working closely with Fraser Health Authority, will help residents living with addictions, mental health and physical issues. The nursing staff will split their time between Garibaldi Ridge and three other housing facilities (Royal Crescent Modular, Alouette Heights and Timber Grove Apartments) operated by Coast Mental Health in the Fraser Valley region.

"Living at Maple Ridge Modular, I have no stress, no depression, I'm working and I'm happier and healthier," said AJ, a resident at Maple Ridge Modular on Royal Crescent. "My life is just happier today because I have a safe place to sleep. I also appreciate having a regular meal.

These are basic needs that provide stability in my life so I can move forward."

The housing was manufactured by Horizon North. The modular design allows it to be installed at the Burnett site temporarily and then moved to a different location. The Province is working with the City of Maple Ridge on securing a permanent location for the housing. Once a site is found, the housing will be moved and work will begin on new affordable seniors' housing at the Burnett site.

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:

  • Currently located at 11749 Burnett St., Garibaldi Ridge will provide 51 units of temporary modular supportive housing for all the remaining campers at the Anita Place camp in Maple Ridge and others who have been staying at the community's emergency homeless shelter since the city cleared people from the camp earlier this year.
  • The Province provided $10.2 million in funding from the Supportive Housing Fund for the project and will provide annual operational funding.
  • The full reports and a summary of the results from the first seven supportive housing projects can be found here: https://www.bchousing.org/modular-supportive-housing-resident-outcomes-reports
  • Budget 2018 included a $7-billion investment in the homes people need. As a result of that investment, more than 21,000 new homes are completed, under construction or in the approvals process for a range of people struggling to find a place to live - from people experiencing homelessness and seniors on fixed incomes, to middle-income families, students and individuals.

Learn More:

A map showing the location of all announced provincially funded housing projects in B.C. is available online: https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC

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

Two backgrounders follow.

Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-2433

Laura Mathews
BC Housing
604 439-8571

Susan Hancock
Coast Mental Health
604 675-2368


BACKGROUNDER 1

Services, 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 operative funding to help those with the highest housing needs build new beginnings. Experienced staff provide support to tenants based on their assessed needs. Services and supports provided to young people, seniors, people with disabilities and others who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness include:

  • both on-site supports and connections to additional specialized supports in their community;
  • supports that are tailored to the needs of the residents, including 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;
  • meals;
  • 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:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-2433

Laura Mathews
BC Housing
604 439-8571

Susan Hancock
Coast Mental Health
604 675-2368


BACKGROUNDER 2

Province building new homes to meet full spectrum of housing needs

The B.C. government is working in partnership to build 114,000 affordable homes that cover the full spectrum of housing needs for British Columbians by 2028.

More than 21,000 new homes are completed, under construction or in the approvals process for a range of people who 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. To date, this includes:

Housing for middle-income earners (households with annual incomes between $50,000 and $150,000) - approximately 3,260 homes:

  • Building BC: Community Housing Fund: approximately 1,500 rental homes for people with middle incomes.
  • HousingHub: approximately 1,760 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 than $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 2,150 homes for low to moderate incomes.
  • Building BC: Indigenous Housing Fund: more than 1,160 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) - more than 2,900 homes:

  • Rapid Response to Homelessness: 2,064 homes with 24/7 support.
  • Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund: nearly 690 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 as of June 2019: approximately 21,300 homes

Contacts:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Media Relations
778 584-2433

Laura Mathews
BC Housing
604 439-8571

Susan Hancock
Coast Mental Health
604 675-2368