A BC modular-housing program aimed at helping Lower Mainland communities tackle adult homelessness will be rolled out in Powell River, if the city agrees to provide land. Premier John Horgan announced the province’s Rapid Response to Homelessness Program at the end of September.
BC Housing director of regional development for the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast Naomi Brunemeyer appeared before city council’s committee of the whole on October 18 to ask if the city had interest in providing a parcel of land, at least one-half acre in size, for approximately 50 modular units for homeless and hard-to-house adults.
“This isn't just a big city problem,” Brunemeyer told the committee. “BC Housing is aware that homelessness, mental illness and addictions happen in every community. Knowing the coast has not had those sorts of resources, we wanted to make sure that it was clear that the program was also available to Powell River.”
The province earmarked $291 million to go toward constructing 2,000 units of modular housing over the next two years in communities throughout the province, with a further $170 million for staffing and operations. The first 1,000 units are expected to be completed and in operation by early 2018.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway said she is excited there will be some movement to ease Powell River’s growing problem with homelessness.
"It's a very exciting announcement,” said Hathaway. “The new BC government is concentrating on the Downtown Eastside and parts of Surrey where, admittedly, there's a huge need for housing, but we also have our needs here."
The Powell River area does not currently have an accurate homelessness count as rural homelessness is often much more hidden than in urban areas, but it is estimated as many as 200 local individuals could be living rough or couch surfing.
According to BC Housing’s program outline, potential residents will be required to pay a fixed rent set at the shelter component of income assistance. Core services provided by the program include meals, no-cost laundry facilities, help accessing income assistance, pension and disability benefits and potential wraparound support from Vancouver Coastal Health.
The goal of this program is to address street and shelter homeless people and homeless at risk, said Brunemeyer.
The province will provide 100 per cent funding for building and operations for the project. Once constructed, a local non-profit agency will be selected to operate the building.
Each self-contained unit, expected to be between 320 and 370 square feet in size, will include an individual kitchen and bathroom, shared laundry, indoor and outdoor amenity spaces, plus programming space.
During the September announcement of the rapid-response program, municipal affairs and housing minister Selina Robinson stated that the modular units will provide interim homes while the province develops more permanent housing solutions.
