The city’s housing director came to council with a late report yesterday on a plan for interim housing — i.e. housing for the 500 or so people now in the emergency shelters the city set up in December and January that will give them a place to stay once the shelters shut down in June while waiting for more permanent housing (i.e. provincial government units) to become available in 2011 and thereafter.
I had heard previously that the city was only considering pre-fab housing for about 90 on a city lot, because — believe it or not — it’s relatively expensive for temporary housing. But now they’re looking at 190 units that would be placed on the sites of the old Drake Hotel on Powell and the old Old Continental Hotel on Granville. As well, the city and province are talking to try to find a building with another 100-something beds, and there’s a recommendation to lease Downtown Eastside hotels to accommodate another 200. All of this would take $13 million from the city and $12 million from private partners for capital costs, $27.5 million from the province for operating costs. Stay tuned on that one.
One question that keeps popping up into my head as I’ve been reporting on all this is: What about the 700 people who stay every night in Vancouver’s other shelters? As those who follow this issue know, the 500 new shelter beds got many people off the street who had been unwilling to use the standard ones — either because they had pets or shopping carts or drug problems or other problems with abiding by the rules in the standard shelters. But those standard shelters still house a lot of people every night — people who also don’t have any permanent housing.
4 responses so far ↓
1 phatpooch // Apr 8, 2009 at 11:00 am
homeless people who are living in shelters seem to like the community aspect of not being alone meeting people who they have something in common with and potential for opportunities or information on meals deals drugs work smokes other shelters etc the idea of there own temporary prefab will fly it will give them some form of independence i beleive the overall concept might be good but let’s not forget the conditions that got them there some form of policing will be needed what rights will they have will they pay rent the cost of this project is emense i’m sure there are better solutions for the dtes vagabonds then spend this kind of money only to have a temporary home.crazy crazy who comes up with this stuff someone needs to be tested for drugs
2 A Reader // Apr 8, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Will these homes have buckets? Or will they require sewage hook ups etc etc. Doesn’t sound very temporary to me. As long as they don’t rip up public park space to put them in.
3 Not running for mayor // Apr 8, 2009 at 6:41 pm
Rumour is circulating that the city is looking at leasing the Eldorado hotel site as the development was placed on hold for now.
Gee the residents didn’t want the 22story tower I can only imagine how they’ll feel about this, even if it is temporary.
4 Otis Krayola // Apr 8, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I have an idea! Why not put these prefabs on that portion of the Burrard Bridge that won’t be needed for the bicycle trials?
helping solve the homeless problem = Good
cars traffic pollution commuter anxiety = Bad
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