Work is underway on the new supportive housing development on Joyce Avenue near Harvie Avenue in Powell River. Priority for occupants will be people living on the street and those in shelters.
The project is a partnership between BC Housing: Rapid Response to Homelessness Program, Powell River Employment Program Society (PREP), Life Cycle Housing Society and Vancouver Coastal Health.
According to PREP executive director Stuart Clark, the project is mostly on schedule for an August/September opening date.
“At the earliest we'd see occupancy in August,” said Clark. “I've been saying fall. I'm really hoping by September we're operational. It takes a good four months once the foundation is in. The foundation is not in yet.”
Announced in July 2018, the 40-unit modular building will offer full support services for people experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness in Powell River. BC Housing conducts all of the intake.
“These people first need to be screened, then interviewed and then assessed, and that assessment is a somewhat formal process,” said Clark.
Vancouver Coastal Health is also a partner on the project and Clark said some of the applicants will come from Powell River General Hospital.
“We had built into the design of this building a medical room so we can have staff actually there rather than the residents necessarily going to hospital,” he added. “We're also in conversation with the hospital about some of the people who are at the hospital who have no fixed address that might move in.”
Multiple services will be on-site for residents, according to City of Powell River councillor Maggie Hathaway, who shares the city’s social action and planning and affordable housing portfolios with fellow councillor Cindy Elliott.
“There will be counsellors there. The intensive case-management team will be there regularly, nurses, nurse practitioners, maybe doctors,” said Hathaway. “If people have addictions they can get help with their addictions there.”
Powell River was one of 22 communities that received funding through the program.
More information on the Rapid Response to Homelessness program can be found on the BC Housing website.
