New permanent housing, shelter spaces coming to Salt Spring Island
Residents of the Seabreeze Inne on Salt Spring Island are breathing a sigh of relief after the province announced new permanent homes and shelter space for the homeless and most vulnerable.
The new supportive housing project will provide 28 new, permanent homes for those experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness and will be built at 161 Drake Rd. in Ganges.
Currently, the motel is being rented by BC Housing to meet the needs of the homeless population on Salt Spring, but that will soon come to an end as the building has been sold.
The local hospital foundation has bought the Seabreeze to provide much-needed housing for health-care workers at the Lady Minto Hospital, which is understaffed due to lack of affordable housing in the region.
The project is being funded by the province and the Capital Regional District, with collaboration from BC Housing and several other organizations.
"This new project will provide permanent, safe and secure housing with supports to vulnerable members of the Salt Spring community who have struggled to find a place to live," said David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing, in a news release.
"This successful collaboration between BC Housing, Capital Regional District, Islands Trust, Lady Minto Hospital Foundation, and Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands Community Services Society shows what we can accomplish when we work together.”
Residents will live independently and have access to supports, such as daily meals, laundry, employment support, health supports, harm reduction and community programming.
“This outcome means health-care workers have a place to live on the island, and the most vulnerable residents of Salt Spring also have a home,” said the Attorney General.
The Salt Spring and Southern Gulf Islands Community Services Society will operate the facility when it opens.
“The announcement that BC Housing is constructing and funding the operation of 28 new supported housing units is great news for the community,” said Rob Grant, Executive Director of Salt Spring Island Community Services (SSICS).
“This will improve housing stability for many individuals.”
Grant says a recent count by BC Housing and SSICS Housing First staff identified about 60 people requiring some level of supportive housing on the island.
“SSI Community Services will do whatever we can to ensure the success of the Drake Road site,” he continued. “I am also relieved that no one currently residing at the Seabreeze will lose their housing at this time. We thank the Lady Minto Foundation for extending the time for their vacancy requirement, and wish them good luck for a smooth and speedy development of hospital staff housing.”
The province is fast-tracking the project straight to the construction phase using its authority under the Interpretation Act, commonly known as "statutory immunity."
The budget for the project hasn’t been finalized. Funding for the project comes from B.C.'s 10-year, $7-billion housing plan announced in 2017.
BC Housing will be engaging with the public and Drake Road neighbourhood stakeholders this month. More information can be found on the BC Housing website.
Current residents at the Seabreeze Inne will move directly to the new housing complex once it’s completed.
“It’s been a long time coming and it will really help secure some housing for some people that really need the supports,” says Grant, adding that he has some concerns.
“I don’t want to take the shine off it because it’s always good to have new things happening; but is it enough? No. We’re far away from addressing all the needs of the community.”
The 2021 homelessness count identified about 150 homeless on Saltspring, of which 100 were unsheltered and the rest were in provisional accommodation.
The island’s emergency shelter has been at full capacity for years, and there are still many people in vehicles, camps and sleeping rough around the island, according to Grant.
“There are still a lot of unknowns about how this will ultimately play out, and we are looking forward to more clarity,” said Grant. “The part of this plan which reduces emergency sheltering capacity in the community will be a challenge.”
Site preparation and construction will begin in the coming weeks. The building is expected to open in late summer 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'They needed people inside Air Canada:' Police announce arrests in Pearson gold heist
Police say one former and one current employee of Air Canada are among the nine suspects that are facing charges in connection with the gold heist at Pearson International Airport last year.
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
BREAKING Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter banned from NBA
Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter has been handed a lifetime ban from The National Basketball Association (NBA) following an investigation which found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors, the league says.
WATCH LIVE As GC Strategies partner is admonished by MPs, RCMP confirms search warrant executed
The RCMP confirmed Wednesday it had executed a search warrant at an address registered to GC Strategies. This development comes as MPs are enacting an extraordinary, rarely used parliamentary power, summoning one of its contractors to appear before the House of Commons to be admonished publicly for failing to answer questions related to the ArriveCan app.
Disappointment widespread over budget's proposed $200-month disability benefit funding
Advocacy groups across Canada are expressing widespread disappointment about the amount of funding earmarked in the 2024 federal budget for the long-awaited Canada Disability Benefit.
Earthquake jolts southern Japan
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4 hit southern Japan late on Wednesday, said the Japan Meteorological Agency, without issuing a tsunami warning.
Woman who pressured boyfriend to kill his ex in 2000s granted absences from prison
A woman who pressured her boyfriend into killing his teenage ex more than a decade ago will be allowed to leave prison for weeks at a time.
opinion Don Martin: Gusher of Liberal spending won't put out the fire in this dumpster
A Hail Mary rehash of the greatest hits from the Trudeau government’s three-week travelling pony-show, the 2024 federal budget takes aim at reversing the party’s popularity plunge in the under-40 set, writes political columnist Don Martin. But will it work before the next election?
Former Sask. massage therapist who sexually assaulted clients has day parole revoked
A former massage therapist who pleaded guilty to a string of sexual assaults has had his day parole revoked.