HOUSINGAGAIN-L Housing Again Bulletin No. 29

[Catherine Nasmith <cnasmith@sympatico.ca>]

HOUSING AGAIN - Bulletin Number 29
March 16, 2001

A twice-monthly electronic bulletin published on what people are doing
to put housing back on the public agenda in Ontario, across Canada and
around the world. Our web site is http://www.housingagain.web.net

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In this issue: A Visit to BC

1. BC Housing Invests Wisely
2. Non-Profit and For-Profit Get Cozy at the Metropole
3. Privacy and Dignity for B.C. Seniors in Preserved Historic Site
4. Housing as Economic and Community Development in Vancouver
5. Two new Papers from Canadian Housing and Renewal Association
6. Use our Alerts!

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1. BC Housing Invests Wisely

"The role of the provincial government is to support locally-driven
housing initiatives and work with communities to identify new ways of
responding to a range of housing needs." That’s how Shayne Ramsay, Chief
Executive Office of BC Housing, voices the commitment to respond to the
need for affordable housing in British Columbia. BC Housing is backing
these words with dollars and sense: it is providing an increase in
funding and is taking the lead on integrating and coordinating the
programs, supportive services and managerial expertise needed to build
more safe, healthy and affordable housing.
 
How do you deliver on 3000 new homes in two years (1999-2000)? The
experience of BC shows that partnerships are the key. Local governments,
non-profit societies and co-operatives, community organizations, the
housing sector, the development industry, housing professionals and
financial institutions all have a role to play. BC Housing brought them
all together when it hosted the province’s first ever Affordable Housing
week last October 15-22. 
http://www.bchousing.org/afford/ahw/index.html

Of these, the non-profit housing sector is a great asset for responding
to the diversity of needs, particularly those of our most vulnerable
citizens. B.C.’s network of 726 non-profit societies and 249 co-ops
offers a rich resource of experience and expertise for developing and
managing housing projects in response to local and/or special needs.
(see BC Non-Profit Housing Association at  http:www.bcnpha.bc.ca .
Cooperative Housing Federation of BC at http://www.chf.bc.ca

It should be no surprise then that non-profits figured prominently when
BC Housing entered into a unique partnership with the City of Vancouver
and the Vancouver Richmond Health Board  to address social, economic,
health and safety issues in Vancouver. More than 480 units of supportive
housing in seven different developments will be built through this
partnership.  http://www.bchousing.org/media_2001/2001-009news.html

BC Housing provides construction financing and ongoing subsidies; the
city donates or leases the site and the health board delivers a range of
supportive services and individual projects are managed by local
non-profits. By working together and pooling resources this way, B.C.
gets more units of affordable housing than would otherwise be possible.

This spirit of cooperation also characterizes the multi-service approach
of these projects designed to address the needs of those most vulnerable
to homelessness. In addition to some additional short-stay emergency
housing, a longer-stay component aims to bridge the transition from
homelessness to independent living. In another development, high
health-risk populations get assessment, medication management and
linkages to community resources.  Another setting will focus on
providing services to people dealing with mental illness, substance
abuse and HIV/AIDS. Seniors in single-room occupancy hotels who
otherwise would become candidates for placement in acute care or long
term care facilities will have the chance to live in a community with
food, laundry and support workers.

In all those scenarios, ongoing cost savings will be realized as people
with stable, healthy housing need less emergency room and acute care
crisis intervention.  Everyone’s quality of life is enhanced when
individuals are able to maintain their independence in their own homes.

BC Housing has invested money and know-how in developing healthy
housing. Now that makes sense.

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2. Non-Profit and For-Profit Get Cozy at the Metropole

For years, Vancouver’s Metropole Hotel housed low-income residents in 64
sub-standard rooms without baths. In a city beset by low vacancy rates
and high rents, it was an obvious target for upscale redevelopment. To
forestall that eventuality and its effects – residents’ dislocation and
homelessness - the Downtown Eastside Residents Association (DERA)
approached Can-West, a private real estate developer, with a proposal
for affordable housing. With the help the Canadian Centre for
Public-Private Partnerships in Housing the two formed a joint venture
company. "We’ve found that one of the best ways to create
self-sustaining, affordable housing is to facilitate partnerships
between non-profit groups who know their neighbourhood needs and housing
industry professionals who know their business" says Lorraine Verokosky,
manager of assisted Housing for CMHC’s B.C. and Yukon Region. At the end
of this summer, residents begin moving back into 60 self-contained units
with private bath and kitchen. (see www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca)

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3. Privacy and Dignity for B.C. Seniors in Preserved Historic Site 

Rose Manor has provided continuous care to Victoria’s seniors since
1898. In 1997 BC Housing and the Oak Bay Kiwanis Rose Manor Society
formed a partnership to restore and upgrade the building to preserve
Victoria’s history and to continue providing affordable housing to
seniors. Once completed, Rose Manor will provide 66 supportive housing
units for seniors over 75 who are able to live independently with some 
assistance.

The support services available include; a private space with a lockable
door, which may be a self contained living unit, safe and barrier-free
environment, monitoring and emergency response, option for at least one
meal a day, housekeeping, as well as laundry and recreational
opportunities  Nursing and other health-related services are delivered
by the local health authority by special arrangement or as they would be
to any other individuals living independently in the community.

Since 1999, BC Housing has funded the development of 15 supportive
senior’s housing developments with more than 450 units across the
province. A combination of subsidized and unsubsidized rental
accommodation and life leases are geared to meet a variety of economic
needs and social goals.

A variety of models are utilized, including self-contained apartments,
hotel-style living and larger group or style developments. Rose Manor
brings that total to over 500 units. 
http://www.bchousing.org/media_2001/2001-008news.html

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4. Housing as Economic and Community Development in Vancouver

B.C’s provincial government has bought the former Woodward’s department
store, vacant since 1993, for housing, commercial and retail purposes. 

The Woodward’s Housing Co-op will receive construction financing and
operating assistance to develop housing for low- and moderate-income
families, seniors and singles. Up to 275 co-operative housing units will
occupy 40 per cent of the building. The rest of the building will be for
commercial and retail use.
http://www.bchousing.org/media_2001/2001-xxxnews.html

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5. Two new Papers from Canadian Housing and Renewal Association

In response to a proposal made September by the Canadian Mortgage and
Housing Corporation (CMHC) for a cost-shared, capital grants initiative
for affordable housing, the CHRA has prepared two short documents to
help lobby around the program.

The first document, "Principles to Guide a Capital Grant Program for
Affordable Housing in Canada," was released immediately after the
announcement and sets out a variety of issues that would need to be
considered. More recently, they have completed a follow-up paper,
"Building Foundations for a Successful Housing Partnership."

Both documents can be obtained by emailing the CHRA at <info@chra-achru.ca>.

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6. Use our Alerts section!

Use our "Alerts" section of HousingAgain to get fresh news up-dated
daily and to tell others what you are doing. Point your browser to
http://alerts.web.net/index.cfm?app=housing 

If you have a news release or other news, you can POST IT to the site by
clicking on "post". Try it-its easy-We want to know what you are doing
to put housing back on the public agenda.
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