Bachelor Suites Dept: $8.4 MILLIONOLYMPIC LEGACY HOUSING UNDERWAY IN SAANICH SAANICH MurrayCoell, Minister of Labour and MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, announcedtoday construction is underway on the Olympic Vista Apartments, an Olympiclegacy housing project that will provide 36 affordable rental apartments withsupport services for individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness inSaanich. Reconfiguringmodular housing units from the 2010 Olympic Winter Games into supportivehousing for area residents is a sustainable and innovative way to create alasting legacy in Saanich, said Coell. Thisdevelopment will allow us to provide a more diverse range of housing optionsfor those most in need. The Province s contribution of$7.2 million will be used to reconfigure the modular homes into the OlympicVista Apartments, which will provide 36 bachelor suites. The Province will alsoprovide annual operational funding for support services. The Capital Regional Hospital District CRHD provided the land,valued at $1.15 million. This is the first majordevelopment on the former Mount View School site and the Capital RegionalHospital District is proud to be a partner in this significant milestone forthe Region, said Graham Hill, chair, Capital RegionalHospital District . The undertaking of this project demonstratesour commitment to community and sustainability and we are happy to have beenselected as part of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games legacy . The building is a result of an agreement between the Province andthe Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic WinterGames VANOC , to reconfigure 320 temporary modular housing units from theOlympic and Paralympic Village at Whistler, and relocate and convert them into156 permanent, affordable apartments in six communities across the province.Other communities include Chilliwack, Enderby, Sechelt, Surrey, and Chetwynd. The addition ofthe Olympic Vista Apartments will increase our district s ability to helpresidents who are facing the risk of becoming homeless, said District ofSaanich Mayor Frank Leonard. I would like to thank all partners involved inbringing this wonderful project to fruition. Victoria Cool AidSociety Cool Aid will manage and operate the Olympic Vista Apartments.Established in 1968, Cool Aid provides the Capital Region with a rangeof critical programs, including supported housing, integrated health care,emergency shelter and employment services to adults who have been marginalized. We are committedto developing community based solutions that will end homelessness in thecapital region, said Kathy Stinson, executive director, Victoria Cool AidSociety. Thanks to our strong partnerships with the Province and communityorganizations, we are able to provide the region s most vulnerable residentswith the housing and respectful assistance they need to move forward in theirlives. Increasingaffordable housing, reducing homelessness and helping those who cannot helpthemselves is a key agenda for the Province of British Columbia. Through Housing Matters BC, the Province is addressing a range ofhousing needs, from homelessness to affordable rental housing andhomeownership. In 2010 11, theProvince will invest over $562 million more than four times as much as in2001 to provide affordable housing and supports to reduce homelessness. To find out more about affordable housing in B.C., visit www.bchousing.org . As
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