ABBOTSFORD - Women experiencing homelessness in the community now have 37 new supportive homes options at a permanent modular building with around-the-clock services.

"Women in need now have a place to call home and the supports to help them get back on their feet and have hope for the future," said Garry Begg, MLA for Surrey-Guildford. "With more than 80 new supportive modular homes now open in Abbotsford, we're creating housing that works for the residents and the community."

Located at 31399 Livingstone Ave., Legacy Manor is the second modular housing project to open in the community. The two-storey modular apartment building features 37 units, each with a private washroom and mini kitchen. One of the units is wheelchair-accessible. The former restaurant on site was renovated to create a central amenity building with a commercial kitchen and dining space. Tenants will start moving into the new units later in June 2019.

"On behalf of the City of Abbotsford I'd like to thank the Province for its continued investment in Abbotsford," said Henry Braun, mayor, City of Abbotsford. "Our community has taken a housing first approach to address homelessness and additional capacity for modular housing will serve to support the most vulnerable individuals in our community."

Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver will operate the building and provide residents with meal programs, life and employment skills training, health and wellness support services.

Located on land owned by the society, Legacy Manor is adjacent to its Firth Residence, which provides transitional housing and support services, including detox, stabilization and structured relapse prevention for women.

"This critically needed supportive housing will help transform the lives of some of the most vulnerable women in Abbotsford," said Shawn Bayes, executive director, Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver. "The positive impact of the Province's investment in helping women leave homelessness can't be understated. Safe housing and case management support together will unlock the door to a brighter future for the women who live here."

B.C.-based manufacturer Horizon North was selected by the Province to manufacture the modular units for Legacy Manor, 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 $7.1 million in capital and construction costs for the project and will provide annual operating funding of approximately $1 million.
• 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 1,400 are complete.
• As part of Budget 2018, another 2,500 additional homes with 24/7 support are completed, underway or in development.
• 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 provincially-funded housing projects in B.C. is now available online at: 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

To find out more about Elizabeth Fry Society of Greater Vancouver, visit:www.elizabethfry.com

Two backgrounders follow. 

Contacts:

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

Laura Matthews
BC Housing
604 439-8571

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 provides 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:

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

Laura Matthews
BC Housing
604 439-8571

BACKGROUNDER 2

Province building new homes to meet full spectrum of housing needs

The B.C. government is working in partnership 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 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.

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 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.
• Close to 2,900 student housing units are also underway or in development through partnerships with post-secondary institutions.

Total: approximately 20,400 homes

Contacts:

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

Laura Matthews
BC Housing
604 439-8571