28
October
2019
|
09:46 AM
America/Los_Angeles

People move from homelessness to housing in Langley

LANGLEY – Forty-nine people are transitioning from homelessness to supportive housing, as the doors open this week at a newly renovated building at 6465 201 St. in Langley.

“Langley, like other communities across B.C., has a clear need for housing,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Supportive housing provides people with a safe and secure place to call home, gives them hope and the tools to move forward in their lives. It’s great to see this project opening as we work to build more homes in the community.”

Stepping Stone Community Services Society will run the new supportive housing. It will provide services that include experienced outreach workers, wellness checks, connection to community services and support groups, life skills training – such as employment planning – and managing transitions to recovery and independence.

“It is exciting to see this long-awaited supportive housing coming into use,” said Jack Froese, mayor, Township of Langley. “Everyone has their own story of how they became homeless. Through this new facility and the vital support, services and care that will be provided, residents will have their individual needs met, get on track for permanent housing and find a healthy, stable path in life.”

The building includes an on-site intensive case management team, which will provide access to treatment and mental health services. The team is funded by Fraser Health and led by the Langley Community Services Society, in partnership with the Salvation Army, Encompass Support Services Society and Stepping Stone Community Services Society.

“A project like this with strong partnerships is very valuable in providing solutions to complex community issues,” said Dan Kipper, director, mental health and substance use, Fraser Health. “Fraser Health is pleased to be a part of such a collaboration.”

The housing has at least two experienced staff on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

A community advisory committee has been meeting since March 2019. It includes BC Housing, Fraser Health, the Township of Langley, community partners, businesses and residents from the surrounding community, to ensure good communication between neighbours.

“Stepping Stone Community Services is excited and honoured to be able to work with BC Housing, Fraser Health, the Township of Langley and our community partners on this supportive housing project,” said Janet Burden, executive director, Stepping Stone Community Services. “We are looking forward to opening this housing for people in Langley that will benefit from having safe, secure, affordable and supported housing, and we know that as soon as the doors open, a new chapter of hope will begin for those who will call Creek Stone Place home.”

A homeless count in March 2017 found that there were more than 200 people experiencing homelessness in the City and Township of Langley.

Quick Facts:

  • The Province invested $9.9 million to transform a former Quality Inn into the new supportive housing and will provide annual operating funding.
  • Residents will pay rent of $375 per month, the social assistance shelter allowance provided by the Province.

Learn More:

New reports show that supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness is substantially improving the quality of life for residents and reducing their use of emergency health services. The full reports and a summary of the results can be found here: https://www.bchousing.org/modular-supportive-housing-resident-outcomes-reports.

To learn more about the supportive housing at 6465 201 St., visit: https://www.bchousing.org/partner-services/public-engagement/projects/langley-supportive-housing

To find out what the Province is doing to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians, visit: https://workingforyou.gov.bc.ca/

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

Two backgrounders follow.

Contacts:

Darren Harbord
Senior Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
250 882-8518

BC Housing
media@bchousing.org

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 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, as well as 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:

Darren Harbord
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
250 882-8518

media@bchousing.org
BC Housing

BACKGROUNDER

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.

Budget 2018 included a $7-billion investment in the homes people need. As a result of that investment, more than 22,000 new homes are complete, 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. As of Aug. 31, 2019, this includes:

Housing for middle-income earners (households with annual incomes between $50,000 and $150,000) - approximately 4,120 homes:

  • Building BC: Community Housing Fund: approximately 1,500 rental homes for people with middle incomes.
  • HousingHub: approximately 2,620 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 9,320 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 1,170 homes for Indigenous peoples, on- and off-reserve.
  • Regional Housing First Program: more than 700 homes for people with low to moderate incomes.

Housing for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness (shelter-rate housing) - more than 3,060 homes:

  • Rapid Response to Homelessness: 2,064 homes with 24/7 support.
  • Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund: nearly 800 homes with 24/7 support.
  • Regional Housing First Program: more than 200 homes for those ready to live independently with supports.

Housing for women and children leaving violence - approximately 360 homes:

  • Building BC: Women's Transition Housing Fund: approximately 360 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 22,460 homes

Contacts:

Darren Harbord
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
250 882-8518

media@bchousing.org
BC Housing