Gibsons welcomes housing tenants

Packages containing community information and small gifts have been assembled by the Town of Gibsons for the individuals moving into the School Road Supportive Housing project. Representatives of BC Housing (BCH), the project’s developing partner, noted that this is the first community to have taken this action since it began work on the Province’s 2018 plan to create more housing options for individuals facing the risk of homelessness.
The packages contain background on area resources, including the Gibsons Library, the Public Market, Nicholas Sontag Marine Education Centre, School District #46 and the Salvation Army. Complimentary one-year memberships to the Gibsons Art Gallery and the Marine Education Centre are part of the package, as well a shopping bags, basic supplies and gift cards from local merchants. Also included are letters of welcome to the new residents from Mayor Beamish, MLA Nicholas Simons and MP Patrick Weiler.
Beamish said when he spoke with others in the community about the idea, “it just kind of snowballed.” The packages are now ready for tenants as they move in. Beamish is hopeful that they will help the individuals transition into becoming Gibsons residents.
Beamish reported on this initiative and a recent tour of the facility for local elected officials at the SCRD board meeting on Feb. 26. As of that date, BCH was still working on finalizing arrangements for tenants to move into the location.
The School Road project was created on Town-owned land with money from the Building BC – Supportive Housing Fund. That program will be investing $1.2 billion over 10 years to create 2,500 new homes, complete with full-time on-site support services for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. Projects have been approved for construction in Sooke, Vancouver, Campbell River, Chilliwack, Penticton, Sechelt and Powell River as well as other communities.
Connie Jordison