Hope - 1275 7th Avenue
Image is a preliminary design and subject to change.
BC Housing, the District of Hope, Fraser Health and the Hope and Area Transition Society (HATS), are working together to build supportive housing and shelter with Extreme Weather Response capability at 1275 7th Avenue, Hope.
The modular building will provide approximately 56 supportive homes and 15 shelter spaces. The building will also have the capacity to provide 15 Extreme Weather Response spaces.
The property is owned by Fraser Health and located next to the Fraser Canyon Hospital.
District of Hope Council approved an Official Community Plan amendment and rezoning for this site on October 11, 2022. We currently expect construction to begin on this site in late 2024 or early 2025.
Supportive Housing and Shelter
The building at 1275 7th Avenue will include:
Supportive Housing
- Self-contained studio homes
- Longer-term housing options
- Hot meals
- Individualized services to meet the needs and goals of residents
- Residents pay rent and sign a residency/program agreement
24/7 Shelter
- Temporary accommodation to meet the immediate needs for shelter, food, and security
- Essential support services, including referrals to health care or housing programs
- First come, first served
Extreme Weather Response
- Typically active between November and March
- Open for extreme weather events only e.g., freezing rain, snow, cold temperatures
- Opening determined by the District
Operator
The Hope and Area Transition Society (HATS) will manage the building and provide services to residents and shelter guests. HATS is a non-profit society in Hope that provides client-centered programs/services to individuals and families. Through a trauma-informed approach, HATS offers clients and the community, services, advocacy and education to build resiliency, empowerment and inclusion.
Fraser Health's Integrated Homelessness Action Response Team (IHART) team will also have dedicated space in the proposed new building and be able to offer onsite services to shelter guests and residents of supportive housing.
IHART is a multidisciplinary care team that provides support for sheltered or unsheltered people or those living in select supportive housing. The team will provide trauma-informed and recovery-oriented service and ensure people receive primary care and other community services.
Community Engagement
BC Housing and project partners consulted with the Chawathil First Nation and First Nations Health Authority regarding the housing proposal. Thanks to these discussions, we have incorporated pit house design elements and updated the colour palette for the building.
We introduced the housing proposal to the local community by mailing a letter and fact sheet on February 14, 2022. At this time, we also reached out directly to local schools, businesses and other community groups with an invitation to meet and discuss the proposed project.
On February 24, 2022, BC Housing hosted an online community information session to share details of the proposal, collect feedback, address concerns, and answer questions. Download the presentation from this session.
A community comment period was open from March 15 to March 28, 2022 for community members to provide additional input on the proposed project.
BC Housing presented combined feedback from all community engagement in a report for the District of Hope prior to a public hearing on August 29, 2022.
We welcome questions about this project at communityrelations@bchousing.org.