Prince George - A partnership involving BC Housing, Northern Health, and the City of Prince George

BC Housing Design Guidelines require that between 5-12% of units in a housing project be designed for wheelchair accessibility, so that would mean 3-6 units would be accessible for both the proposed supportive and affordable rental housing buildings. In addition, common areas would be designed to allow universal access.

Evaluating existing food options was part of the Downtown Prince George Health Services Review done by Northern Health Authority. Access to food is an important consideration as we begin to discuss operational needs as part of the design proposal. The operator, who has not yet been selected, would be providing on-site meal services to residents on a daily basis.

The proposal for 1^st Avenue is an integrated housing-health project that would include supportive housing, affordable rental housing and onsite clinic space. Residents of both the supportive housing and affordable rental housing would pay rent for their homes. 

The affordable rental housing proposed for the second phase of this integrated housing-health project would be for low-to-moderate income Indigenous individuals and families. At this point, this is a proposal that is going through the municipal review process.

BC Housing has a range of programs to provide housing assistance. This includes various subsidized housing options as well as rent supplements in which part of an individual’s rent is paid for by BC Housing. You can view this site to search housing listings in a specific area: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/rental-housing/housing-listings or use the Program Finder to learn which programs you may be eligible for: https://programfinder.bchousing.org/programfinder/faces/start 

Please phone the BC Housing Applicant Services at 1-800-257-7756 if you would like to discuss your options.

1. Northern Health is developing a plan for health services to ensure quality of health care services and to respond to the recommendations of the Downtown Health Services Review. We can confirm that the proposed location would deliver mental health, substance use, and primary care services for residents and the local community, through ground-floor health service space in each building.

2. The 2018 Homeless Count identified 160 people experiencing homelessness in Prince George. 110 of these individuals were sheltered versus 50 unsheltered. This is not specific to the downtown area. To learn more about the 2018 Homeless Counts, visit www.bchousing.org/research-centre/housing-data/homeless-counts

BC Housing Design Guidelines require that between 5-12% of units in a housing project be designed for wheelchair accessibility, so that would mean 3-6 units would be accessible for both the proposed supportive and affordable rental housing buildings. In addition, common areas would be designed to allow universal access.

BC Housing has a range of programs to provide housing assistance. This includes various subsidized housing options as well as rent supplements in which part of an individual’s rent is paid for by BC Housing. You can view this site to search housing listings in a specific area: https://www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/rental-housing/housing-listings(External link) 

Or use the Program Finder to learn which programs you may be eligible for: https://programfinder.bchousing.org/programfinder/faces/start(External link) 

Please phone the BC Housing Applicant Services at 1-800-257-7756 if you would like to discuss your options.

Hi there – thank you for your support of this proposal. You can send an email of support to communityrelations@bchousing.org. We don’t currently have any community hearing dates planned but when we do, we’d love to see you there!

A downtown Prince George location was recommended in Northern Health’s 2017 downtown health services plan.(External link)

The owners of NR Motors have purchased another site for the business and are interested in moving from their current location. This provided an opportunity for the City to acquire a large site in the vicinity of downtown that meets the needs of BC Housing and Northern Health, while providing space for future development.

When considering locations for supportive and affordable rental housing, BC Housing looks for proximity to community services (commercial and recreational activities); reasonably close to transit; adequate lot size; connections to utilities; compatible land use policies. The goal is to successfully integrate this new housing into the community. Health services are a community-based care service. This model is safe and helps people remain integrated in their communities.

This property has not been purchased. The City has an accepted offer to purchase the property, subject to rezoning, environmental and geotechnical review, and project approval.

Many studies over the years illustrate that stereotypes about the impact of social housing are often unfounded and that appropriately designed and integrated social housing in a neighbourhood can actually increase residential property values. We have included a case study on the impact on property values in our Document Library.

Supportive housing follows an evidence based and internationally demonstrated Housing First model, which aims to end chronic homelessness by first providing stable housing, and then working with the resident to promote recovery and well being. Supportive housing works to lessen the impact issues have by providing a safe environment where medical intervention is readily available. Building staff and partners like Northern Health provide ongoing guidance, encouragement and support to individuals living in supportive housing.

Our experience is that once a person experiencing homelessness is housed, they are committed to taking this next step in their lives and they work hard to not lose their housing.

It’s also important to note that substance use is often the result of experiencing homelessness.

BC Housing, the City of Prince George, and Northern Health are partnering on this proposal to improve downtown Prince George with the addition of more than 100 new affordable homes integrated with support and health care services to help the community’s most vulnerable populations to recover and stay healthy. This proposal would fulfill one of the initiatives at making downtown clean and safe for all, through the facilitation of partnerships enabling the development of housing with on-site health services including specialized mental health and substance use services.

BC Housing looks for proximity to community services (commercial and recreational activities); reasonably close to transit; adequate lot size; connections to utilities; compatible land use policies. The goal is to successfully integrate new housing into the community. Health services are a community-based care service. This model is safe and helps people remain integrated in their communities.

An operator has not been selected yet for the supportive housing or the affordable rental housing. As part of the selection process, consideration will be given to the fact that 80% of people experiencing homelessness in Prince George identify as Indigenous.

The City of Prince George is currently reviewing the land use application with consideration of surrounding land uses, including the neighbouring propane sales and servicing business. 

A downtown Prince George location was recommended in Northern Health’s 2017 downtown health services plan.(External link) The owners of NR Motors have purchased another site for the business and are interested in moving from their current location. This provided an opportunity for the City to acquire a large site in the vicinity of downtown that meets the needs of BC Housing and Northern Health, while providing space for future development. When considering locations for supportive and affordable rental housing, BC Housing looks for proximity to community services (commercial and recreational activities); reasonably close to transit; adequate lot size; connections to utilities; compatible land use policies. The goal is to successfully integrate this new housing into the community. Health services are a community-based care service. This model is safe and helps people remain integrated in their communities.

Thank you for your support of this proposal. Evaluating existing food options was part of the Downtown Prince George Health Services Review done by Northern Health Authority. We agree that access to food is an important consideration as we begin to discuss operational needs as part of the design proposal. The operator, who has not yet been selected, would be providing on-site meal services to residents on a daily basis.

The facility providing storage and access to a public washroom is located at 181 Quebec Street, and is the result of a partnership involving the City of Prince George, BC Housing, and the Prince George Native Friendship Centre.  The hours of operation are still being determined. A report on the initiative will be presented at a public meeting of Prince George City Council – this is currently planned for October 7.

This proposed project is from the Framework Agreement between BC Housing, the City of Prince George and Northern Health. It’s our shared commitment to a ‘Housing First’ approach that recognizes people are better able to benefit from support and maintain stability in their lives if they are housed.

BC Housing and Northern Health are provincial organizations that are funded by the Government of BC. The City of Prince George would provide land for the development and lead the rezoning process. BC Housing would lead the design and construction of the supportive and affordable homes and oversee operation of the housing units once construction is complete. Northern Health would oversee the delivery of primary and community-care health services, as well as mental health and harm reduction services, within the health services spaces constructed by BC Housing. Funding will flow from each organization, exact dollars have not been determined yet.

The funds to acquire the site will not come from an increase in municipal property taxes.

Sorry to hear of your client’s challenges accessing affordable housing. For too long too many British Columbians have struggled to find affordable, safe, stable housing. Projects like this one would provide vital homes for those that need them most. This innovative housing-health project would provide up to 100 new, affordable, energy efficient homes with supports and services to help people recover and stay healthy. 

Currently, this proposal is in the preliminary stage of planning. The site (the current location of NR Motors) needs to be rezoned by the City for the project to proceed; the rezoning process is expected to begin this fall. BC Housing will determine operational details, including resident eligibility details, if the proposal is approved.

We agree that an integrated solution is needed downtown. This proposal is not for housing alone – it is for housing with on-site supports, as well as healthcare space. Northern Health would be responsible for overseeing these spaces and providing primary care, harm reduction, and specialized mental health and substance-use services. This project addresses recommendations in Northern Health’s 2017 downtown health services plan.

BC Housing, the City of Prince George, and Northern Health are partnering on this proposal to improve downtown Prince George with the addition of more than 100 new affordable homes integrated with support and health care services to help the community’s most vulnerable populations to recover and stay healthy. This proposal would fulfill one of the initiatives at making downtown clean and safe for all, through the facilitation of partnerships enabling the development of housing with on-site health services including specialized mental health and substance use services. A downtown Prince George location was recommended in Northern Health’s 2017 downtown health services plan. The plan builds on the Province’s “Housing First” approach that recognizes the importance of housing stability to health and community vitality.

The owners of NR Motors have purchased another site for the business and are interested in moving from their current location. This provided an opportunity for the City to acquire a large site in the vicinity of downtown that meets the needs of BC Housing and Northern Health, while providing space for future development. The City has an accepted offer to purchase the property, subject to rezoning, environmental and geotechnical review, and project approval. The location is proposed – it is not confirmed. There will be upcoming opportunities for the community provide input through the municipal rezoning process.

However, we can confirm that when considering locations for supportive and affordable rental housing, BC Housing looks for proximity to community services (commercial and recreational activities); reasonably close to transit; adequate lot size; connections to utilities; compatible land use policies. The goal is to successfully integrate new housing into the community. Health services are a community-based care service. This model is safe and helps people remain integrated in their communities.

First, we would like to clarify that this proposal is in the preliminary stage of planning, and will go through a municipal approvals process before proceeding.

 There would be two buildings on the site, the building that would contain supportive housing in phase one, and the building with affordable rental housing in phase two. BC Housing would determine operational details, including eligibility, if and when the proposal is approved. However, we can clarify the general application process for existing supportive housing and affordable rental housing.

 Applicants for supportive housing would go through a thorough assessment process to ensure an appropriate mix of residents with the right supports. Every potential resident would be considered on an individual basis to ensure that the housing and services provided by the program match the support services that they need, such as life-skills training, employment assistance, and help with accessing a range of social and health care services. Offers of tenancy would be made after BC Housing’s coordinated access team meets with agencies representing Outreach, Housing, RCMP and Northern Health to assess each applicant.

 Applicants for the affordable rental housing would apply to live in the affordable housing by completing BC Housing’s Online Housing Application or directly through the non-profit housing provider (who has not been selected yet.)

 As the this proposal is still in the preliminary stage of planning, site and building parking details are not determined. Consideration will be given to planning for appropriate parking and storage. Accessibility to transit and services is an important part of building successful new housing communities.

This proposal is in the preliminary stage of planning, and will go through a municipal approvals process before proceeding. 

There would be two buildings on the site, the building that would contain supportive housing in phase one, and the building with affordable rental housing in phase two. 

BC Housing would determine operational details, including eligibility, if and when the proposal is approved.