Hope - 1275 7th Avenue

Preliminary design of the Extreme Weather Shelter at 1275 7th Avenue in Hope

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 on a combined shelter, supportive housing and Extreme Weather Response shelter proposed at 1275 7th Avenue, Hope.

Currently, the only year-round shelter in Hope has space for 20-beds and is operated by HATS at 650 Old Hope Princeton Highway. There is a need to move the location of the current shelter as it is not a long-term solution. The need for shelter and homes with supports continues to grow in Hope, with 69 people identified as homeless in the 2020 Point-in-Time count.

The proposed location is owned by Fraser Health and is next to the Fraser Canyon Hospital providing easy access to services and transit for future residents.

The proposed modular building will:

  • Provide approximately 56 homes with supports, 15 shelter beds and 15 Extreme Weather Response beds
  • Be managed and operated by HATS
  • Have 24/7 staffing to support residents

The proposed site would need to be rezoned and an amendment made to the Official Community Plan before the construction of the modular housing could take place.

The Operator

The Hope and Area Transition Society (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

Fraser Health's Integrated Homelessness Action Response Team (IHART) team will have dedicated space in the proposed new building and be able to offer onsite services to shelter guests and residents of supportive housing.

Integrated Homelessness Action Response Teams are multidisciplinary care teams that provide support for sheltered or unsheltered individuals 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.

Housing Types

The proposed housing a 1275 7th Avenue, will provide wrap-around service and have three different housing and shelter options within the building.

Extreme Weather Response

  • Identified by the municipality and work with non-profit organizations to run
  • Typically open between November and March
  • Open for extreme weather events e.g., freezing rain, snow, cold temperatures
  • Opening is determined by the District

24/7 Shelter

  • First come, first serve
  • Access to a temporary bed
  • Temporary accommodation and essential services to meet the immediate needs for shelter, food, and security

Supportive Housing

  • Longer-term housing options
  • Typically, self-contained studio units
  • Hot meals
  • Supports are provided to meet the needs of individuals
  • Residents pay rent and would sign an agreement

Community Engagement

BC Housing and partners hosted a virtual session on February 24th from 6:00pm – 7:30pm for the community. Attendees heard from, and were able to ask questions to, BC Housing, Fraser Health, HATS, and the building architect team.

This session was a pre-regulatory engagement as plans are still being developed. Once a formal rezoning application has been submitted to the District, there will be further community engagement.

A community comment period was open from March 15th to March 28th and was an opportunity for community members to provide additional input on the proposed new homes with supports and shelter at 1275 7th Avenue in Hope.

This is just one way BC Housing is collecting feedback on the proposal. If you have any questions, please feel free to use the Questions tool, or email us at communityrelations@bchousing.org.

This proposed project is BC Housing and partners continue to engage with the community on the proposed housing at 1275 7th Avenue. scheduled for a public hearing on August 29th, 2022. For more information, including how to participate, please visit News | District of Hope.

Project Update

BC Housing, Fraser Health and HATS are pleased to provide project updates. The project team has taken comments and questions into consideration from the early engagement phase and integrated them into the rezoning application.

First Nations Engagement: Inclusion of pit house design elements to reflect local indigenous history, colour palette changes for the exterior of the building.

BC housing notified 18 First Nations communities in the surrounding area of the proposed development in late 2021 and early 2022 with a request to engage. To date, BC Housing has hosted 2 meetings with Chawathil First Nation and 1 meeting with First Nations Health Authority. Additional meetings are anticipated with the objective of ensuring adequate services and opportunities for cultural practices are made available for Indigenous tenants and shelter guests.

Accessible Units: The proposal includes 8 accessible Supportive Housing Units.

Images

We are pleased to share preliminary images of the building design. Images are subject to change.


Ground level floor planGround level floor plan



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 on a combined shelter, supportive housing and Extreme Weather Response shelter proposed at 1275 7th Avenue, Hope.

Currently, the only year-round shelter in Hope has space for 20-beds and is operated by HATS at 650 Old Hope Princeton Highway. There is a need to move the location of the current shelter as it is not a long-term solution. The need for shelter and homes with supports continues to grow in Hope, with 69 people identified as homeless in the 2020 Point-in-Time count.

The proposed location is owned by Fraser Health and is next to the Fraser Canyon Hospital providing easy access to services and transit for future residents.

The proposed modular building will:

  • Provide approximately 56 homes with supports, 15 shelter beds and 15 Extreme Weather Response beds
  • Be managed and operated by HATS
  • Have 24/7 staffing to support residents

The proposed site would need to be rezoned and an amendment made to the Official Community Plan before the construction of the modular housing could take place.

The Operator

The Hope and Area Transition Society (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

Fraser Health's Integrated Homelessness Action Response Team (IHART) team will have dedicated space in the proposed new building and be able to offer onsite services to shelter guests and residents of supportive housing.

Integrated Homelessness Action Response Teams are multidisciplinary care teams that provide support for sheltered or unsheltered individuals 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.

Housing Types

The proposed housing a 1275 7th Avenue, will provide wrap-around service and have three different housing and shelter options within the building.

Extreme Weather Response

  • Identified by the municipality and work with non-profit organizations to run
  • Typically open between November and March
  • Open for extreme weather events e.g., freezing rain, snow, cold temperatures
  • Opening is determined by the District

24/7 Shelter

  • First come, first serve
  • Access to a temporary bed
  • Temporary accommodation and essential services to meet the immediate needs for shelter, food, and security

Supportive Housing

  • Longer-term housing options
  • Typically, self-contained studio units
  • Hot meals
  • Supports are provided to meet the needs of individuals
  • Residents pay rent and would sign an agreement

Community Engagement

BC Housing and partners hosted a virtual session on February 24th from 6:00pm – 7:30pm for the community. Attendees heard from, and were able to ask questions to, BC Housing, Fraser Health, HATS, and the building architect team.

This session was a pre-regulatory engagement as plans are still being developed. Once a formal rezoning application has been submitted to the District, there will be further community engagement.

A community comment period was open from March 15th to March 28th and was an opportunity for community members to provide additional input on the proposed new homes with supports and shelter at 1275 7th Avenue in Hope.

This is just one way BC Housing is collecting feedback on the proposal. If you have any questions, please feel free to use the Questions tool, or email us at communityrelations@bchousing.org.

This proposed project is BC Housing and partners continue to engage with the community on the proposed housing at 1275 7th Avenue. scheduled for a public hearing on August 29th, 2022. For more information, including how to participate, please visit News | District of Hope.

Project Update

BC Housing, Fraser Health and HATS are pleased to provide project updates. The project team has taken comments and questions into consideration from the early engagement phase and integrated them into the rezoning application.

First Nations Engagement: Inclusion of pit house design elements to reflect local indigenous history, colour palette changes for the exterior of the building.

BC housing notified 18 First Nations communities in the surrounding area of the proposed development in late 2021 and early 2022 with a request to engage. To date, BC Housing has hosted 2 meetings with Chawathil First Nation and 1 meeting with First Nations Health Authority. Additional meetings are anticipated with the objective of ensuring adequate services and opportunities for cultural practices are made available for Indigenous tenants and shelter guests.

Accessible Units: The proposal includes 8 accessible Supportive Housing Units.

Images

We are pleased to share preliminary images of the building design. Images are subject to change.


Ground level floor planGround level floor plan



Have a question or comment? Please add below.

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  • I believe housing is a human right and supportive housing is desperately needed in our community. A safe place to live is the foundation to improving mental health, well-being, and allows folks to pursue opportunities that would be otherwise unreachable when unhoused. My question is: how can neighbours voice their support of this housing initiative in Hope?

    Jamie asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you so much for your supportive inquiry, Jamie. We appreciate you reaching out!

    Generally, we would encourage you to stay involved in the project.

    Any comments to Let’s Talk are always appreciated, attending future engagement sessions is encouraged, and we would encourage you to let Mayor and Council know of your support. We would also encourage you to attend the public hearing when we get to this stage.

    The date of the public hearing will be added to the project's Let's Talk page once we have it.

  • The homelessness situation is so awful. What work is being done at a provincial level to take an overview of this important topic? We have a cost of living crisis which doesn’t seem to be taken seriously enough, and which is only going to exacerbate homelessness.

    Erica asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry, Erica. I agree with you that homelessness situation is far from ideal and is unfortunately increasing across the province. It is a very challenging time for everyone, and BC Housing and the Province are working hard to provide safe and affordable housing for British Columbians. 

    As you may know, the Finance Minister Hon. Selina Robinson just announced the details of Budget 2022 on February 22nd. 

    A particular item of interest to you may be a $633 million investment to tackle homelessness over the next three years. As well, MLA Robinson referenced:  

    • a $100 million budget increase to the Community Housing Fund to accelerate the construction of mixed market rentals; 
    • addition of more staff to help support HousingHub projects; 
    • new housing supports for youth aging out of care, available until age 27; 
    • the expansion of complex care housing to another 20 sites across the Province; 
    • increased rent supplements to support those renting in the private market.

    These are just some of the most relevant points to your inquiry. More details about Budget 2022 can be found here: Budget 2022 moves us forward together to build a StrongerBC and a full transcript of the speech can be found here: Budget Speech (leg.bc.ca) 

    More information on the rapid response to homelessness, please visit: Rapid Response to Homelessness (bchousing.org)

    Please visit our website Research Themes (bchousing.org) where you can download an interesting document covering many interesting topics such as homelessness, distinct populations, housing affordability and much more.

    I hope this information was helpful to you. Please email us with your questions at communityrelations@bchousing.org.

  • Would this housing be for Hope residents only or would empty beds be filled by other communities?

    CindyL asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry, Cindy. Priority will be given to Hope residents experiencing or at risk of homelessness. People who experience homelessness are as varied as any other neighbour. They may be seniors, people with disabilities, people who have employment but no housing, people who are working through mental health concerns and/or substance use. All residents in supportive housing have made a choice to work towards living a healthy, stable life.

  • Will the facility be wet or dry?

    Red Canoe asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for your inquiry. It is important to note that not everyone who would reside here would have substance use problems. Supportive housing is open to people who meet the eligibility criteria, which does not restrict substance use.

    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. Tenancies are determined by means of an in-depth and coordinated assessment process that recognizes the importance of a safe and inclusive community. 

  • Why has the number of homeless people in Hope greatly increased since 2018?

    Vaughan asked over 2 years ago

    There are several reasons why there are more people experiencing homelessness in Hope including high rent costs, low income and family or relational breakdown including conflict, abuse and violence. This report https://www.fvrd.ca/assets/About~the~FVRD/Documents/Homelessness/2020%20Homeless%20count%20and%20survey%20report.pdf may be of interest to you.

Page last updated: 15 Feb 2023, 09:13 AM