Powell River – New Supportive Housing & Shelter Building on Joyce Avenue

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BC Housing, in partnership with the City of Powell River, is proposing to build a new supportive housing and shelter building on City-owned land adjacent to qathet General Hospital at 5000 Joyce Avenue. This project would help address the urgent need for more safe, indoor spaces for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Powell River.

The new building would offer up to 43 supportive studio apartments, some of which will have added Complex Care Housing services funded by Vancouver Coastal Health. The building would also include a purpose-built shelter with up to 20 spaces to support people’s initial transition out of homelessness. It would also provide the amenity, clinical, programming and staffing space to deliver Complex Care Housing services.

The urgent need in Powell River

The last Point in Time Homelessness count in April 2023 identified 126 people experiencing homelessness in Powell River. Of these, 74% were unsheltered. Opening more supportive homes and shelter spaces means there would be fewer vulnerable people sheltering outdoors in Powell River. This would contribute to overall community safety.

Location and development

The City of Powell River owns vacant land adjacent to the property at 5000 Joyce Avenue. The proposal is for BC Housing to enter into a long-term lease for a portion of this land to facilitate the development of this housing.

It is important for supportive housing and shelter space to meet people where they are, in the community where they already live. Supportive housing and shelter must be located close to services, amenities and transit. These things are essential for people who are transitioning out of homelessness and working towards a healthy, stable life.

Directed by Council, the City has initiated road closure and rezoning bylaws required to support to the proposed development. Following approval, Council can then consider leasing these City-owned lands to BC Housing. If a lease is granted, construction is estimated to start in 2025.

Supportive housing

Supportive homes are deeply affordable studio apartments for people who need various supports to maintain their housing. These can include daily meals, life skills and employment training, and referrals to other community services.

Residents would be single adults (19+) of all genders, including seniors, people with disabilities or any others who need supports to maintain stable housing. All supportive housing residents sign residency agreements and pay rent.

Complex Care Housing services

Through the Complex Care Housing program, Vancouver Coastal Health, in partnership with the Tla’amin Nation and Lift Community Services, would provide residents with enhanced health supports, including person-centered health care and other culturally safe services and more. These services would be in addition to the supports provided by supportive housing and be available to residents under one roof and in their own home.

Complex Care Housing services have been a welcome addition to supportive housing programs across B.C. Learn more about Complex Care Housing.

Purpose-built shelter

The new building would also include a purpose-built shelter with up to 20 spaces. When a shelter is purpose-built (and co-located with supportive housing), we can include more safety and security features for the benefit of the shelter guests as well as the surrounding community. These could include fenced grounds, a single point of entry, fob access, 24/7 staffed reception, security cameras and lighting.

Shelter support workers would support each guest to help them along their individual journey to transition out of homelessness. Shelter services can include skills training and support navigating the housing system.

Operator

Lift Community Services (Lift) would manage the building and provide services to the supportive housing residents and shelter guests. It would work in partnership with the Tla’amin Nation in providing services to all Indigenous program participants.

Lift is a community-based non-profit society that has been operating in the qathet Region for 40 years, offering housing and employment services, food security programs, health and family services and more. Learn more about Lift.

Community Engagement

A caring community can contribute greatly to the success of the housing residents. BC Housing is committed to being a good neighbour and keeping lines of communication open as this project moves forward.

Our small group meetings with interested parties and community open house took place at the Powell River Town Centre Hotel on September 10 and 11, 2024. We want to thank all participants for their time and thoughtful discussion. View the Community Engagement Report.

City Council will be considering the road closure and rezoning bylaws required to support the proposed development at the meeting on October 10, 2024. Residents can provide written submissions to info@powellriver.ca. In order for correspondence to be included on the agenda, it would need to be received by no later than October 1, 2024 at 4 pm.

We are only at the beginning of a fulsome community engagement process for this project. We plan to reach out again to the community early in 2025 to offer more engagement opportunities.

We welcome questions at any time by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.