The building is next to the Open House Ministries campus, and residents will have access to on-site resources, such as case management, educational programs, parenting and weekly chapel.
“Open House Ministries is a family shelter. But we do more than just that. (This funding) will allow us to move people into stable housing, and it’s going to continue to give families access to any services that they were in our formal program,” said executive director Renee Stevens. “It’s going to allow families to thrive until they’re completely ready to move into market rate.”
It is no secret that affordable housing in Vancouver is few and far between. Data captured from the National Low Income Housing Coalition show that in 2021 there were only 22 affordable home options for every 100 low-income households in Vancouver.
Stevens said that although the building is small in scale, it will still impact the families it serves and the community’s housing landscape.
“While it is a smaller project, I do think it’s going to make an impact on our affordable housing in our community,” said Stevens. “I know it’s only 30 units of affordable housing, but that’s 30 more units than we currently have.”
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