BC Housing, the Phoenix Transition Society, and the Trinity United Church are working together to build new transition and second stage housing for women and their children in Prince George, especially Indigenous women. Construction has begun and will provide a new space for the Harmony House program where women and their children can live for six months to one year as well as second stage housing where women and their children can live independently for up to eighteen months.
Community Engagement
During the rezoning process, BC Housing and the operator hosted Zoom meetings with the neighbourhood and stakeholders. Below is a summary of how feedback was integrated into the final design:
Tree Retention: Residents asked that we keep as many trees as possible on site. To help, the design team worked with a professional forester. Unfortunately, we were not able to keep as many trees as we hoped. Due to the deep excavation needed for underground storm, water, sewer and hydro work, tree root structures were weakened. These trees are unsafe to keep.
We aim to keep the trees along Union Street, but later hydro work may require more tree removal.
The operator and BC Housing are committed to creating a beautiful site. We intend to landscape the property and trees are part of that plan. Landscaping will enhance the site for residents and the neighbourhood. Careful thought has gone into landscape planning. Including planting native species that support local wildlife, insects and birds. Many plants in the plan have medicinal and cultural values for Indigenous peoples in the region.
Parking: The site provides 16 parking spaces. There will be a shared parking agreement between the nearby church and BC Housing for church use as needed. Parking at Harmony House will be limited to staff and visiting professionals.
Design that fits into the neighbourhood: Creating a building that fits the neighbourhood is a key goal of the design. The design reinforces a residential-style building like others in the area. Including a pitched, residential-style roof, hardi-plank lap and shingle siding and other façade elements that symbolize the shape of a home. A rendering of what it might look like is below.
Project Details
When completed, the development will include a building that will accommodate women who are pregnant or recently gave birth and require a safe place to raise their children and develop life and parenting skills. The building will include both transition and second stage housing.
Transition housing functions as one large home and includes private bedrooms and bathrooms with shared kitchen and common indoor and outdoor spaces. Second stage housing includes self-contained, suites for independent living. The number of units will be confirmed through the design process, but the project team is seeking to construct a building that is two storeys and looks and feels like a home.
Operator
The Phoenix Transition Society will operate the proposed development. The Phoenix Transition Society currently operates the Harmony House program out of a small home and has a long wait list and high demand for their services. The newly proposed project would expand current operations to meet an important need in the community.
The project is being funded through the B.C. Housing Women’s Transition Housing Fund Program.
Timeline
Construction is anticipated to be completed by Spring 2024.
BC Housing, the Phoenix Transition Society, and the Trinity United Church are working together to build new transition and second stage housing for women and their children in Prince George, especially Indigenous women. Construction has begun and will provide a new space for the Harmony House program where women and their children can live for six months to one year as well as second stage housing where women and their children can live independently for up to eighteen months.
Community Engagement
During the rezoning process, BC Housing and the operator hosted Zoom meetings with the neighbourhood and stakeholders. Below is a summary of how feedback was integrated into the final design:
Tree Retention: Residents asked that we keep as many trees as possible on site. To help, the design team worked with a professional forester. Unfortunately, we were not able to keep as many trees as we hoped. Due to the deep excavation needed for underground storm, water, sewer and hydro work, tree root structures were weakened. These trees are unsafe to keep.
We aim to keep the trees along Union Street, but later hydro work may require more tree removal.
The operator and BC Housing are committed to creating a beautiful site. We intend to landscape the property and trees are part of that plan. Landscaping will enhance the site for residents and the neighbourhood. Careful thought has gone into landscape planning. Including planting native species that support local wildlife, insects and birds. Many plants in the plan have medicinal and cultural values for Indigenous peoples in the region.
Parking: The site provides 16 parking spaces. There will be a shared parking agreement between the nearby church and BC Housing for church use as needed. Parking at Harmony House will be limited to staff and visiting professionals.
Design that fits into the neighbourhood: Creating a building that fits the neighbourhood is a key goal of the design. The design reinforces a residential-style building like others in the area. Including a pitched, residential-style roof, hardi-plank lap and shingle siding and other façade elements that symbolize the shape of a home. A rendering of what it might look like is below.
Project Details
When completed, the development will include a building that will accommodate women who are pregnant or recently gave birth and require a safe place to raise their children and develop life and parenting skills. The building will include both transition and second stage housing.
Transition housing functions as one large home and includes private bedrooms and bathrooms with shared kitchen and common indoor and outdoor spaces. Second stage housing includes self-contained, suites for independent living. The number of units will be confirmed through the design process, but the project team is seeking to construct a building that is two storeys and looks and feels like a home.
Operator
The Phoenix Transition Society will operate the proposed development. The Phoenix Transition Society currently operates the Harmony House program out of a small home and has a long wait list and high demand for their services. The newly proposed project would expand current operations to meet an important need in the community.
The project is being funded through the B.C. Housing Women’s Transition Housing Fund Program.
Timeline
Construction is anticipated to be completed by Spring 2024.
COVID-19 is showing us the cracks in our communities and culture. Before the pandemic, 1 in 3
women experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly by an intimate partner. Data collected so
far show an increase in calls to domestic violence helplines since the outbreak of COVID-19.
More than ever our community needs these services. I would be honoured to share my
neighbourhood with women and children trying to make a stronger and safer life.
SMaxwell
asked
about 2 years ago
Thank you for your email and your support for this exciting and important project. All responses we have received will be included in an engagement summary provided to the City of Prince George as part of the rezoning process.
