Vancouver – 1015 East Hastings Street

The demand for subsidized housing far exceeds the available supply. BC Housing places applicants based on the urgency of their housing need, and based on the priority list below:   

• Applicants facing a severe risk to health and/or safety, such as currently being homeless or living in a homeless shelter. 
• Applicants with serious health/medical/social needs, such as risk of homelessness, fleeing domestic abuse, living in severely inadequate housing, or transitioning to a more independent living situation. 
• Applicants whose housing need is moderate compared with the two previous categories, such as living in temporary or inadequate accommodation. 
• Applicants with a specialized housing need or low housing need, such as living in marginally crowded housing. 
• Applicants for the low end market units found in some subsidized buildings.
  
  Priority for public housing units managed by BC Housing is provided to people with the greatest need in a particular community.  You can request an update to your application status and ensure that it is active in BC’s Housing Registry. You will have to make a new application in order to be considered for housing in Penticton. To update your status:  

• By phone: Call the Housing Registry Inquiry Line at 604-433-2218, or 1-800-257-7756 outside the Lower Mainland. 
• By fax: Fax a letter with your name, file number, previous information, and new information to The Housing Registry at 604-439-4729. 
• By mail: Mail a letter with your name, file number, previous information, and new information to The Housing Registry at:
  
  BC Housing Home Office, 101-4555 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC  V5H 4V8.  Office hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm.
• In person: Letters can also be dropped off at the above BC Housing office.

If you are housed directly with a non-profit or co-operative housing provider that manages their own applicant lists, ask them how you can keep your file up to date and how often they want you to contact them. 

The shelter program would support people on their journey to wellness and stability in a drug- and alcohol-free environment. The shelter program would be run by the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society (VAFCS), which has a policy of zero drug and alcohol use on site. VAFCS has been operating the shelter at 201 Central Street since 2009, and has the skills and expertise to manage this shelter safely and responsibly. Shelter guests would have their beds for up to 90 days and during this time they would be able to connect to programs and services to support their health and wellness. The shelter program is one component of an overall project; the overall project would help keep the neighbourhood affordable and diverse by providing a range of housing options for people and families, including about 85 new, affordable rental homes and transform a vacant commercial lot into a safe and welcoming space where people can come together to feel accepted and valued.

There will be staff on-site 24/7. People will be supported on their journey to wellness and stability through safe accommodation, healthy meals and on-site supports to ensure shelter guests are well-cared for, including:

• on-site training, education, health and wellness services and gathering space.
• Assessment to ensure each person is matched with the right level of support services they need to remain housed and live a healthy, stable life.

This site was identified in 2016 through the City of Vancouver response to Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council’s (MVAEC) Aboriginal Health and Wellness Strategy. Visit https://council.vancouver.ca/20160119/regu20160119ag.htm for further information from the January 19, 2016 Council meeting (Item 2.) This proposed project is also aligned with the Downtown Eastside Plan intentions for the Hastings Street and Kiwassa area - add new residential uses, increase social housing, and add locally-serving retail and services.

The proposal includes social enterprise space that would be operated by VAFCS on the ground floor. A Social Enterprise is a business owned by a non-profit organization to produce and / or sell goods and services. Social Enterprises generate income and serve a social, cultural, and/or environmental purpose. For example, VAFCS currently operates the Klatawa Bike Shop which is a community focused DIY bike shop that provides bike mechanic training to indigenous people in Vancouver; offers full service repairs; a stocked inventory of refurbished bikes as well as new and used bike parts.

Finally, the proposed landscape plan can be found on the project website. The design team is working closely with the VAFCS to establish a set of values and a vision for this project. The design will evolve in the next phases to create a place that celebrates Indigenous culture and is welcoming to all.

Thank you for your words of support of our proposal. The design team is looking at opportunities for common areas throughout the buildings.The vision is for a safe and welcoming place where all people can come together to feel accepted and valued.

Thank you for your words of support of our proposal. The design team is looking at opportunities for common areas throughout the buildings.The vision is for a safe and welcoming place where all people can come together to feel accepted and valued.

Thank you for your comments about the proposed housing at 1015 East Hastings Street. This project is being designed to make a positive contribution to the community and enrich the local neighbourhood. 

The area around the site is currently in transition, with a mix of industrial, commercial and residential uses. There are amenities for children and families within a few blocks including elementary schools, Ray Cam Community Centre, the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre and child care centres. The housing would be located on a major transit line and people who would live at 1015 East Hastings would access employment using the same variety of methods as every other resident of the area.

This site was identified in 2016 through the City of Vancouver response to Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council’s (MVAEC) Aboriginal Health and Wellness Strategy. Visit https://council.vancouver.ca/20160119/regu20160119ag.htm for further information from the January 19, 2016 Council meeting (Item 2.) This proposed project is also aligned with theDowntown Eastside Planintentions for the Hastings Street and Kiwassa area to add new residential uses, increase social housing, and add locally-serving retail and services. Local business owners may also be looking for new hires as the area develops and flourishes.

Thank you for your words of support. A rezoning application for 1015 East Hastings is now with the City of Vancouver. We welcome support at future opportunities for feedback, such as the City-led open house, public hearing and input period that will be held at dates TBC. We will update this page as soon as further details are available.

The shelter program would support people on their journey to wellness and stability in a drug- and alcohol-free environment. The shelter program would be run by the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society (VAFCS), which has a policy of zero drug and alcohol use on site. VAFCS has been operating the shelter at 201 Central Street since 2009, and has the skills and expertise to manage this shelter safely and responsibly. Shelter guests would have their beds for up to 90 days and during this time they would be able to connect to programs and services to support their health and wellness. The shelter program is one component of an overall project; the overall project would help keep the neighbourhood affordable and diverse by providing a range of housing options for people and families, including about 85 new, affordable rental homes and transform a vacant commercial lot into a safe and welcoming space where people can come together to feel accepted and valued.

There will be staff on-site 24/7. People will be supported on their journey to wellness and stability through safe accommodation, healthy meals and on-site supports to ensure shelter guests are well-cared for, including:

• on-site training, education, health and wellness services and gathering space.
• Assessment to ensure each person is matched with the right level of support services they need to remain housed and live a healthy, stable life.

This site was identified in 2016 through the City of Vancouver response to Metro Vancouver Aboriginal Executive Council’s (MVAEC) Aboriginal Health and Wellness Strategy. Visit https://council.vancouver.ca/20160119/regu20160119ag.htmfor further information from the January 19, 2016 Council meeting (Item 2.) This proposed project is also aligned with theDowntown Eastside Planintentions for the Hastings Street and Kiwassa area - add new residential uses, increase social housing, and add locally-serving retail and services.

Thank you for your interest in the proposed project at 1015 East Hastings. It is in a preliminary stage of review, and if approved through the City of Vancouver, we anticipate the building would be opening in 2023. More information about the affordable rental housing and market rental housing proposed for this site will be available at a future date.

Please visit the BC Housing Program Finder to learn about which programs you may be eligible for: https://programfinder.bchousing.org/programfinder/faces/start

To discuss housing options, please contact BC Housing Applicant Services: 1-800-257-7756 (Toll-free.)

Thank you for your interest in the proposed project at 1015 East Hastings, which would include:

• 80 permanent shelter beds for people and families experiencing homelessness;
• 25 homes with supports for people who are ready to move from the shelter to more independent living;
• 85 new affordable rental homes for low-income families and individuals; and
• 53 new market rental homes.

This proposal is in a preliminary stage of review, and if approved through the City of Vancouver, we anticipate the building would be opening in 2023.

Please visit the BC Housing Program Finder to learn about which programs you may be eligible for: https://programfinder.bchousing.org/programfinder/faces/start

To discuss housing options, please contact BC Housing Applicant Services: 1-800-257-7756 (Toll-free.)