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Supportive Housing Registry process streamlinedThe Supportive Housing Registry was created by BC Housing and non-profit housing providers to ensure an equitable system of access by street-entrenched homeless people to newly available supportive housing units in Vancouver. Launched in late 2008, the Registry has achieved significant success in housing nearly 1,000 people in provincially-owned single room occupancy hotels and other supportive housing sites. Over 90 per cent of those placed remain housed. With most units in the SROs now occupied, the Registry is ready to enter its next stage. The SHR application and intake process has been streamlined, providing the non-profit operators with more autonomy. These changes provide the housing providers with the tools and flexibility to manage the day-to-day activities in their buildings. The Registry still operates as a central point of access and anyone wishing to live in a supportive housing unit in Vancouver must still apply through the Registry. This provides accountability in ensuring equity of access. |
Agencies collaborate to support tenantsIn early April, staff with Vancouver Coastal Health’s Inner City Youth Mental Health Program and Coast Mental Health support workers held the first of what will become regular meetings regarding five young tenants who now live at the St. Helen’s Hotel on Granville Street. The tenants, who all have mental health issues as well as addictions, work with the program’s psychiatrists, social workers, and support workers. The purpose of the joint meetings is to ensure the youth have successful tenancies. The Inner City Youth Mental Health Program began in 2007 by linking psychiatrists from St. Paul’s Hospital with youth at Covenant House, a shelter and transition house in the Downtown Eastside. The program recently approached BC Housing looking for homes for the homeless youth it works with and was given five units at the St. Helen’s, where Coast Mental Health provides support services. The location works well given its proximity to St. Paul’s Hospital as well as to Granville Residence, a City-owned building where another nine program participants live. In addition to the support the five youth receive through the Inner City Youth Mental Health Program, they can also access the supports offered by Coast Mental Health. This additional support can be as simple as Coast workers reminding the youth to attend appointments. Other youth are ready to socialize more with their new neighbours and are already attending organized events such as movie nights. Over time, the hope is the youth will develop trusting relationships and a larger network of support which will be vital to them as they become adults. |
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Reno updatesRenovations are nearing completion at Dunsmuir House. New plumbing has been installed in the building and the common washrooms on each floor are being thoroughly updated. Common area kitchens are being installed on every floor and select units are also being renovated. Repairs are also being made to the roof. A roof replacement tender is in process for the Shaldon Hotel. Plumbing repairs are completed at Tamura House and plans are underway to convert the building’s radiant hot water heat to electric baseboard. The Gastown Hotel’s elevator is being restored and building envelope repairs are being conducted in a localized area of the building. Localized repairs are also happening on the Arco Hotel’s north elevation, including some window replacements. The Park Hotel, which has taken its historic name of the Hutchinson Block, has seen its restaurant storefront redone, and will include the installation of a new neon sign. Scaffolding is up on the front of the Beacon Hotel. Lead paint is being stripped off the façade and the building will be left with its heritage brick front. The window trims will be repainted, the cornices repaired, and the storefront upgraded. PHS Community Services Society has applied to the City of Vancouver for a grant from the Façade Grant Rehabilitation program to improve the façade of the building. These upgrades are expected to be complete by the end of June. |
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Tentative SRO construction schedule as of April 22, 2010
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