Updated March 25, 2021

HAIDA GWAII - People experiencing homelessness will have a safe and secure place to call home with 19 new supportive homes opening in the Village of Queen Charlotte (Daajing Giids).

“This project will change the lives of the people who will live in these new homes and have a positive impact on the community as well,” said David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing. “We are working in partnership to make sure vulnerable people in every corner of the Province have a safe home with supports.”

Located on 136 2nd Ave., Kal Naay Alder House is a permanent supportive housing building with 19 units, including two accessible units. The two-storey building also has a medical room, laundry, administrative and counselling space, lounge, dining room and commercial kitchen.

Queen Charlotte Heritage Housing Society is managing the housing. Staff will provide residents with wraparound support services, including meal programs and life-skills training, as well as health referrals and wellness checks. A staff member will be on site 24-7.

BC Housing and the society have worked together to identify those who are experiencing homelessness in the community, evaluated their support needs and developed a support plan to prepare them as they move into their new homes.

The Province provided approximately $8.5 million in capital funding from the Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund for the building and is providing $469,000 in annual operating funding. The land for the project was transferred from the Province to BC Housing. This was done in consultation with the Haida Nation.

Residents started moving into the new building on March 22, 2021.

Quotes:

Jennifer Rice, MLA for North Coast –

“This project, with the support and wraparound services it provides, centres dignity and stability for people experiencing homelessness. BC Housing and the Queen Charlotte Heritage Housing Society are invaluable partners in tackling one of the most challenging issues of our region.”

Kris Olsen, mayor, Village of Queen Charlotte –

“The Village of Queen Charlotte would like to thank the Province, BC Housing and the Queen Charlotte Heritage Housing Society for making this very important project a reality. Thank you for providing members of our community a safe place to call home."

Greg Martin, president, Queen Charlotte Heritage Housing Society –

"We understand the importance of safe, stable housing and food as being the fundamental basics for the success of our most challenged members of society.”

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 learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians, visit: https://workingforyou.gov.bc.ca/

A backgrounder follows.

Contacts:

Ministry of Attorney General and Responsible for Housing
Media Relations
778 678-1572

BC Housing
Media Relations
media@bchousing.org

BACKGROUNDER

Services, supports provided for supportive housing

All new supportive 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 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 connection 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.

Media Contacts:

Ministry of Attorney General and Responsible for Housing
Media Relations
778 678-1572

BC Housing
media@bchousing.org