New affordable and supportive “wrap-around” housing is coming to Prince George.
The province is partnering with the city and Northern Health on an innovative project that is bringing together new affordable housing and health-care services to support people in the northern capital.
This project is the first to be proposed in Prince George to provide this range of housing and services, all under one roof.
The proposed mixed-use development would be located on First Avenue at the current location of NR Motors.
B.C. Housing will lead the construction of the project to be built in two phases.
The first phase would include approximately 50 supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness and the second phase would include 50 affordable rental homes for low- to moderate-income individuals and families.
"I would like to express my appreciation to Northern Health and B.C. Housing for partnering with the city to explore real options for improving our downtown for everyone. Just the fact these three organizations are working together is quite innovative and encouraging, and positions Prince George for meaningful change,” says Mayor Lyn Hall in a news release.
“The partners will now work together to provide the community with more information about the proposal together with opportunities for public input, leading up to a rezoning process later this fall."
Experienced non-profit housing providers would be selected to oversee the day-to-day management of both buildings.
Each building would include a ground-floor health-care space delivering services for both residents and the public.
Northern Health, in partnership with other health-service agencies, would oversee these spaces and provide primary care, harm reduction, and specialized mental health and substance-use services.
"When people have stable housing and access to supports when and where they need them, it benefits the entire community. This project will offer people in Prince George wraparound services in a safe and secure environment, so they can focus on a pathway to healing and to hope,” says Judy Darcy, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions in the release.
The proposed project addresses recommendations in Northern Health's 2017 downtown health-services plan.
It's still in an early phase of planning as a municipal rezoning process is currently planned for fall 2019 and the city has an agreement with NR Motors to purchase the property, subject to rezoning, an amendment to the official community plan, environmental and geotechnical review and project approval.
According to NR Motors, the company has outgrown its current site and is planning to move to a different location.
In addition to these homes, the Province is working in partnership to build 105 new affordable homes in Prince George which includes 50 affordable rental homes for Indigenous peoples; and 55 affordable rental homes for women and their children fleeing violence.
