First Avenue supportive housing development’s second phase “on track,” Public Safety Committee hears

Phase two of a three-stage supportive housing development is “on track.”

At today’s (Tuesday) Standing Committee on Public Safety Meeting, the Committee heard delegations from BC Housing and Connective, mainly speaking on the province’s HEART and HEARTH program.

During the presentations, a brief update was provided on the next phase of the First Avenue/Ontario Street supportive housing development.

“Next phase of development is pretty much on track, there hasn’t been anything that has derailed timelines at this time,” said Connective Regional Director of Northern BC Camila Sanchez.

While Sanchez said she didn’t know which quarter the housing is expected to open off the top of her head, she would be able to provide that information at a later date.

The second phase of the project broke ground in August, and will deliver 41 supportive homes, 10 complex care units, and a health clinic for vulnerable individuals.

Following the presentations, the City’s Director of Administrative Services Eric Depenau noted the City is trending in the right direction, referencing the homeless count released last month.

“Within that homeless count, it talks about 31 per cent of that number indicating they are staying unsheltered at this time, so roughly 60 people,” Depenau said.

“When we look at what our population in the entrenched encampment was over the winter, low-single digits, two, three, four folks. I think the comment I’m trying to get to with that math equation is we do appear to be hitting a point where the services in the community are meeting the needs when conditions can help folks to seek out those services.”

The City’s Standing Committee on Public Safety meets once per month.