Single Room Occupancy Hotels

Government SROs focus on providing homes to the hard to house

In response to the success of the Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) shelters, BC Housing is moving to house people who are street and sheltered homeless by ensuring all provincially-owned SRO units that open in the next six months will be made available to hard-to-house individuals. Hard-to-house tenants in each building will receive a mix of supports and services depending on their needs and the size of the building. Tenants currently living in the SROs that are partially renovated will have the option to stay where they are or be assisted to find other accommodation, as they choose.

"Our focus needs to be on helping the people with the greatest needs and who have the most challenges in finding housing," said BC Housing’s Margaret McNeil, Vice President, Operations. "All the SROs will have onsite staff. Support services staff will link tenants with social services as well as provide support and access to services. As part of the Immediate Homelessness Intervention Project, BC Housing and the non-profit operators will work with many partners such as Vancouver Coastal Health to ensure that coordinated resources are available to high-need tenants."

When the hotels were first purchased two years ago, the intent was to provide housing for a variety of tenant needs. However, with the immediate needs identified through the HEAT initiative to address homelessness in the streets, previous plans to have the SRO hotels serve targeted homeless-at-risk populations have been modified to allow the priority to be on housing those who are street entrenched. The targeted program will be revisited when supportive housing developments at the 14 sites owned by the City of Vancouver start to come on-line, and more housing units become available to support a variety of types of tenant groups.

"Finding homes for those in the community who are ‘hard to house’ is a priority for the PHS," said Mark Townsend, Executive Director, PHS Community Services Society. "These folks are on the streets, sleeping in business doorways and in parks because they face barriers to existing housing. We're glad to see BC Housing is placing a priority on putting this group into the vacant SRO hotels, as they are in desperate need of having a roof over their heads and a place to call home."

The Supportive Housing Registration (SHR) service, which manages the process for tenants to be placed in the SRO units, has streamlined its intake process and staff are working with the building’s non-profit operators to sort out the most efficient and effective method of ensuring the right people get into the right buildings with the right support services. SHR has placed 146 people in homes since the service began operating in late 2008. So far, over 800 people have been referred to SHR; those who are not hard-to-house are being referred to The Housing Registry.

Renovations at some of the SROs have been accelerated in order to have them ready for occupancy sooner. At other sites, the scope of renovations has been scaled back in order to make units available sooner. BC Housing plans to complete these renovations at a later date. All the buildings will have the necessary health and life safety upgrades in place before occupancy. The goal is to provide homes for 500 hard-to-house people by the end of October.

BC Housing appoints Michael Anhorn to lead key initiatives

A familiar and respected face with non-profit operators on the Downtown Eastside, Michael Anhorn is now leading four key initiatives intended to break the cycle of homelessness. Michael is responsible for the Homeless Emergency Action Team (HEAT) shelters, Supportive Housing Registration (SHR), the Immediate Homelessness Intervention Project (IHIP) in Vancouver, and BC Housing’s role with the Downtown Community Court. Michael’s title is Manager, Supportive Housing, Vancouver Coastal Region.

This new role complements the work of Catherine Talbott, who will continue to focus on transfers and tenant relocations for buildings undergoing renovation, negotiating operating agreements with providers, and providing property management oversight to the SROs and the emergency shelters.

"IHIP is intended to coordinate services the provincial government offers to homeless people so that they work in a more integrated fashion," said Michael. "This includes income assistance, the community court, health services, and housing. These services need to work hand-in-hand with SHR to ensure the coordinated placement of people in the provincially-owned SROs. Our priority is to house 500 street-entrenched homeless people before the end of October. We expect to find many of these people in the HEAT shelters, which is why our SHR staff work closely with the HEAT staff."

At the same time, it is vital that Michael build good relationships with housing and support providers operating in the Downtown Eastside as well as build awareness of the SHR service with referral organizations.

"I’m not aware of any jurisdiction in North America that has preserved housing for homeless people on this large a scale," added Michael. "It’s exciting and challenging, especially given the current economic realties which mean we do not have the SHR staffing levels that we’d originally intended. We’ll get it right; but there needs to be a lot of learning along the way."

Michael and the rest of the SHR staff work out of the Marble Arch Hotel at 520 Richards Street as part of the Vancouver Coastal Region staff.

Additional housing for the homeless

In recent months the provincial government has made two significant announcements regarding additional housing in Vancouver for people who are homeless. The St. Helen’s Hotel was the venue for the January 30th announcement that the Province has acquired six more SROs (341 units) in the Downtown Eastside: Cordova Residence; Dominion Hotel; Hazelwood Hotel; Backpackers Hotel; London Hotel; and 566 Powell Street. Four of the SRO hotels were purchased; two have been leased with five-year renewable terms.

On March 17, Premier Gordon Campbell announced infrastructure spending in B.C., including $172 million to construct six of the City of Vancouver supportive housing sites that have already been through the development approvals process. The premier made the announcement from a venue overlooking the site of 1338 Seymour Street where More Than A Roof Housing Society will manage 105 units with priority given to those living in emergency shelters and SRO hotels. Construction will start on the first site in May, and work on the other sites will get underway through the summer and fall. The other sites are 1005 Station Street (80 units; PHS Community Services Society), 525 Abbott Street (108 units; Atira Women’s Resources Society), 188 East 1st Avenue (129 units; Lookout Emergency Aid Society), 3212 Dunbar Street (51 units; Coast Foundation), and 339 West Pender Street (96 units; Coast Foundation).

The six recently acquired SROs in Vancouver:
566 Powell Street Backpackers Hotel Cordova Residence
Dominion Hotel Hazelwood Hotel London Hotel
Renderings for three of the six City of Vancouver sites that will break ground in the coming months:
1338 Seymour Street 339 Pender Street 3212 Dunbar Street

Police see reason for hope at government-owned SROs

There are several SROs on the Downtown Eastside the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) views as huge drains on emergency resources. The Backpackers Hotel was one of the most notorious. Police were called to the site hundreds of times a year.

"The amount of drug dealing was horrific; conditions there were absolutely perfect for that, assaults, and room takeovers," said Superintendent Warren Lemcke, North Command, VPD. "We’re pretty confident that, with government ownership and non-profit management, calls to us will decrease and we’ll be able to attend to other duties."

Lemcke has noticed an increase in cooperation between the police and the non-profit housing providers since the government began buying SROs in the neighbourhood. "We’re going to build on that growing cooperation; these things take time. Relations with some of the operators have been strained at times for various reasons. We’re really trying to repair that and improve the quality of life for the people who live here."

Through the Partners in Action program launched last year, the VPD hopes to decrease crime and disorder and especially the victimization of marginalized people who often live in SROs.

Lemcke points to the many services and programs coming on line in the Downtown Eastside as reasons to be optimistic. "Everything happening here shows steps are being taken to move in the right direction. This is not about 2010. There will be a 2011 and a 2012. We need to do something for these people before, during and after the Olympics."

Click here to read a Vancouver Courier article about the government-owned SROs and the VPD’s reaction to their management by non-profit operators.

Rainier Hotel opens its doors to tenants

The lounge at the Rainier receives a blessing.

There was a festive feeling in the air February 4 at the official reopening of the Rainier Hotel. The building’s 21 self-contained units on the third floor are for women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and are managed by the PHS Community Services Society (PHS). The second floor will be a 20-unit treatment centre for women in recovery operated by Vancouver Coastal Health in partnership with PHS.

"We’re hoping to see a lot of integration of the support services available between the second and third floors," said Mark Townsend, Executive Director, PHS.

Photos: A room at the Rainier (left) and a shared washroom.

The Rainier was built in the 1920s and was vacant when the provincial government purchased it a year ago. Today, the rooms are nicely painted and the shared facilities (a lounge and a shared kitchen) look terrific.











Rainier tenant grateful for secure housing

For Gail*, a room at the Rainier is a step in the right direction. She is one of 18 women who came to live at the Rainier last November. Rooms come complete with a bed, small fridge, a microwave, a sink, cupboards and a countertop, and a work table. "I’m able to make soup and sandwiches and simple meals right now," said Gail. "Being pretty independent most of my years, I am looking forward to one day having a one-bedroom home. But, for the interim, this is quite comfy."

Being homeless came as a shock to Gail. She has a long employment history but her last three employers paid little more than minimum wage. When each ran into financial difficulties, Gail faced layoffs, without savings to buffer. The stresses over the past years took their toll; Gail did not recognize the signs of her deteriorating health and in mid-January she suffered a heart attack.

Gail is holding fast in her zest for life and is now optimistically in pursuit of new endeavours. This includes passing her GED (grade 12) in early March. She anticipates further college courses in the coming months.

Living at the Rainier, Gail knows people are looking out for her. "The PHS staff have been wonderful. We talk regularly, but they don’t infringe on my privacy. I know they’re there if I need them."

*Last name withheld to protect privacy.

New Residential Tenancy Branch office

A Residential Tenancy Branch office is now open at the Marble Arch Hotel. RTB staff are available five days a week for half a day to provide tenants and landlords with residential tenancy information.

Breaking the cycle of homelessness site



BC Housing has launched a micro-website that focuses specifically on homelessness programs it funds. The site includes quick facts and statistics, printable fact sheets about various programs, and stories of hope. You can find the site at www.bchousing.org/breakingthecyle


Dominion Hotel gets a makeover

One of the most recent SROs to be purchased by the provincial government, the Dominion Hotel requires only minor renovations to its electrical and mechanical systems as well as fire and life safety upgrades. The hotel’s interior also needed a coat of paint and BC Housing staff took on this challenge as part of a team-building event. Working in teams, staff painted the rooms and hallways and also put together countertops and sink units to be installed in every unit.

"The day was meant to give our staff insight into the SROs - what the living conditions are like and the improvements being made," said BC Housing’s James Weldon, who is in charge of renovations at the government-owned hotels. "Most of our staff never have an opportunity to see inside these buildings, so this was very informative for them. It gave them a better picture of the challenges and opportunities that come with revitalizing this housing stock."

BC Housing staff with paint brushes in hand at the Dominion Hotel.

Tentative construction schedule

Hotel Units Tenancy status Non-Profit Operator Renovation Status Anticipated Completion Date
566 Powell St. 12 Fully tenanted Atira Property Management2 5-year lease; no renos required COMPLETE
Arco Hotel 64 Tenanted Atira Property Management2 Pre-renovation TBD
Backpackers Hotel 40 Empty PHS Community Services Society UNDERWAY May 2009
Carl Rooms 44 Empty Atira Property Management with support services provided by PHS Community Services Society UNDERWAY April 2009
College Place Hotel (New West) 40 Empty Lookout Emergency Aid Society UNDERWAY September 2009(Plus an additional 15 shelter beds)
Cordova Residence 34 Tenanted Atira Property Management2 Pre-renovation TBD
Dominion Hotel 63 Empty Atira Property Management2 UNDERWAY April 2009
Drake Hotel 3 26 Fully tenanted Atira Property Management2 COMPLETE COMPLETE
Gastown Hotel 93 Tenanted Atira Property Management2 Pre-renovation TBD
Hazelwood Hotel 112 Fully tenanted Atira Property Management with support services provided by MPA Society UNDERWAY TBD
London Hotel 72 Tenanted Atira Property Management2 5-year lease TBD
Marble Arch Hotel 138 Phased renovation/partially occupied Atira Property Management with support services provided by PHS Community Services Society UNDERWAY Ph. 1: COMPLETE
Ph. 2: July 2009
Ph. 3 & 4: TBD
Marr Hotel 29 Fully tenanted Atira Women’s Resource Society COMPLETE COMPLETE5 Being used for tenant relocations
Orange Hall 27 Phased renovation/partially occupied S.U.C.C.E.S.S. 4 UNDERWAY May 2009
Orwell Hotel 55 Phased renovation/partially occupied Vancouver Native Housing Society UNDERWAY October 2009
Park Hotel 50 Phased renovation/partially occupied City Centre Care Society4 UNDERWAY June 2009
Pender Hotel 40 Empty Vancouver Native Housing Society Pre-renovation TBD
Rainier Hotel 41 Tenanted PHS Community Services Society COMPLETE COMPLETE5
The Rice Block 42 Fully tenanted Atira Women’s Resource Society COMPLETE COMPLETE5
Roosevelt Hotel 42 Tenanted PHS Community Services Society April 2009 June 2009
Savoy Hotel 25 Empty Atira Property Management with support services provided by MPA Society/td> UNDERWAY July 2009
Shaldon Hotel 54 Tenanted RainCity Housing and Support Society Pre-renovation TBD
St. Helens Hotel 86 Phased renovation/partially occupied Coast Foundation Society4 UNDERWAY October 2009
Tamura House 110 Tenanted Lookout Emergency Aid Society Pre-renovation TBD
Walton Hotel 48 Empty Lookout Emergency Aid Society UNDERWAY June 2009
1 Unit numbers are best estimates of how many units there will be in each building post-renovations.
2 Atira Property Management is providing supports as well as property management at this site.
3 This City-owned building is being used for tenant relocations. It will be replaced with a new building managed by RainCity Housing and Support Society.
4 Atira Property Management is managing this building until renovations are complete, at which time the non-profit operator will take over management.
5 Residential renovations are complete. Commercial and/or amenity space renovations are still underway.

Back to newsletter