Vancouver's first temporary modular housing project being assembled in December 2016.
Image Credit: NICK PROCAYLO/PostMedia
November 16, 2017 - 4:36 PM
VERNON - A bit like Lego blocks, Vernon’s new modular housing will be pre-fabricated off-site and assembled at two different locations in the city.
The only other place so far in B.C. where modular housing is being used to combat homelessness is Vancouver, where a bright, modern-looking three-storey building contains 40 apartment units for people on low and fixed-income. Built as individual modules and assembled with a crane, the units are pieced together quickly and can house residents almost immediately after set-up. Vernon's new modular housing — revealed yesterday as part of an $11-million funding announcement — will likely look similar to the Vancouver projects.
Vancouver’s first modular housing project was officially opened Thursday, February 16, 2017 by mayor Gregor Robertson, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development for Canada Jean-Yves Duclos and Vancouver Affordable Housing Agency CEO Luke Harrison, at 220 Terminal Avenue. The affordable rental housing project is the first of many that are planned for Vancouver.
Image Credit: Jason Payne / PNG
The modules are expected to arrive in two waves. The first will be set up at the John Howard Society’s Howard House property, at 2307 43 St. around March 2018.
John Howard Society co-executive director Kelly Fehr says the 45-bed co-ed shelter space will be wheelchair accessible and pet-friendly. The shelter will also be what’s considered “low barrier”, meaning there will be fewer rules for clients.
“We need to meet people where they’re at, not put unreasonable expectations on them,” Fehr says.
For some clients, things like curfews are a barrier to accessing existing shelter services in the community, Fehr says.
“One population that is hard to work with is women doing survival sex. Sometimes, curfews can be a barrier because they are working late into the night. They don’t have the options to come in,” Fehr says. “So, we’re going to be looking at all the barriers we have in place at our current shelters, evaluate that and make sure this new shelter has the least amount of barriers possible.”
Click on the icons in the map above to see where the modular housing will go.
The second phase of modular housing will go in at a vacant lot owned by B.C. Housing on 27 Avenue and 35 Street, a few blocks away from the Upper Room Mission, People Place and other downtown services.
Location of Vernon's new 53-unit supportive housing complex, which has a targeted opening of November 2018.
Image Credit: Google Street View
The complex will be made up of 53 pet-friendly units, each with their own bathroom and kitchen within 350 square feet of private living space. The long-term housing will be available for people 19 and older and will have a minimum of two support staff on hand 24 hours a day.
Tenants will also have ready access to services such as Work B.C., addictions recovery and Interior Health.
Altogether, the new units will house 98 people.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2017