May, 25, 2010
As you are aware, ending street homelessness is one of Vision Vancouver’s top priorities. Today, our city moved a big step closer to reaching our goal of ending street homelessness by 2015.
When Vision Vancouver took office in December 2008, there was no funding in place for the 14 sites of social housing the City has now secured with the Province. This morning, our Mayor Gregor Robertson, the Province of BC and the Streettohome foundation announced $225 million in new money for social housing in Vancouver. The City of Vancouver is contributing a total of $64 million in land for the social housing sites and with today’s announcement we now have 14 sites of social housing fully funded, providing over 1500 new units of social housing in Vancouver. The agreement with the province will enable construction to start almost immediately on the eight new projects, with completions expected between 2011 and 2013.
Mayor Gregor Roberston summed up it best when he said “In the last 18 months we’ve been able to collaborate effectively with the Province, whether it is temporary shelters, interim housing like Dunsmuir House, or permanent social housing like the 14 sites, our partnership of the City securing land and the Province providing operating funding is getting new, creative housing projects up and running.”
We still have work to do to reach our goal of ending street homelessness by 2015, but today’s announcement is a major step in the right direction.
Please Get Involved with Vision Vancouver, and help us work with you on important issues like homelessness.
Sincerely,
Ian Baillie
Executive Director,
Vision Vancouver