20
September
2018
|
12:28 PM
America/Los_Angeles

New housing options for people who are homeless in Hope

HOPE – The Government of British Columbia is taking a multi-faceted approach to support people in Hope experiencing homelessness through a new permanent shelter and acquiring land for creating future supportive homes.

The Province has recently purchased a house at 650 Old Hope Princeton Way which is being renovated into an emergency shelter to provide 20 beds and a safe, warm place to stay for people experiencing homelessness in the community. The new shelter will open at the beginning of October before the cooler winter weather arrives. The four-bed shelter at the Thunderbird Motel will cease operations once the new shelter opens.

The Hope and Area Transition Society will operate the shelter and will be provided with annual operating funding that enables the shelter to remain open year-round, 24/7. Two support staff will be onsite, which will allow the shelter to admit individuals with high levels of need that had previously been unable to use the Thunderbird facility due to an inadequate number of support staff on site.

The Province also recently purchased adjacent lots 660 and 670 Old Hope Princeton Way. The land is intended for a future supportive housing development that addresses the need for additional housing for those who are homeless.

Quick Facts:

  • There are approximately 60 people who are homeless in Hope and the surrounding area.
  • The supportive housing project will be funded through the Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund, which provides $1.2 billion over 10 years to build and operate 2,500 units of supportive housing for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
  • The Province is currently developing a homelessness action plan informed by the results of the 2018 homeless counts, the comprehensive consultation on the Poverty Reduction Strategy and engagements with experts on homelessness from across British Columbia.

Learn More:

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

To learn more about the Province’s emergency shelter program, go to: www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/homelessness-services/emergency-shelter-program

To see a map of permanent and temporary shelters in B.C., visit: www.bchousing.org/Options/Emergency_Housing/Map

Media Contacts:

Lindsay Byers
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
250 952-0617

Laura Mathews
BC Housing
604 439-8571