BC Housing has just announced the purchase of two Queensway buildings with the intent of turning them into supportive housing units.
The properties at 1616 and 1650 Queensway are expected to be able to hold as many as 30 people in “comfortable and safe homes where residents will be provided with daily meals, educational and professional support, as well as referral to health and wellness services.”
“With this purchase, BC Housing will be able to offer more permanent places for vulnerable people to stay in Prince George,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “Through purchases like this and our new Belonging in BC plan, we will help more people find a place to call their own with personalized supports that will allow them to succeed because when that happens, the whole community benefits.”
The two buildings are right next to one another, one was formerly the Fraser Inn Motel – the other was Direct Art.
BC Housing has plans to renovate the Motel and contract out the work at second building.
The properties were purchased for a combined $3.3 million through the Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund.
“I am very pleased with the investments BC Housing is making in our community,” said Simon Yu, mayor of Prince George. “Not just housing, but supportive housing is what we need, and that is exactly what is being delivered. I look forward to continuing to work with BC Housing to address the needs of Prince George citizens.”
Construction is expected to begin towards the end of this year with the hope people can move in by 2025.
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