New homes planned for seniors and people with disabilities
LOS ANGELES: Seniors and people living with disabilities now have access to more affordable rental housing with the opening of a new 48-unit apartment building.
“The Huupsitas building will provide the kind of stability and security that seniors and people living with disabilities need more of, so they can retire in the community they know and love,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing. “Our government is building housing at a historic rate, and these 48 new homes are another example of how we’re building a province where everyone has a good place to call home and no one gets left behind.”
Located at 6161 Russell Pl., the five-storey building has 45 one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom apartments. The WestCoast Native Health Care Society contributed the land for the building, which forms part of the five-acre Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens Campus of Care. The site is home to a 44-unit complex care facility and a 20-unit independent living apartment building.
“Accessible housing like this is part of our commitment to ensure people can continue to live affordably, and close to family, community and culture,” said Josie Osborne, MLA for Mid Island-Pacific. “Our government shares the community’s excitement in seeing these homes opened, and we will continue to work with our partners to support housing needs for seniors and people living with disabilities.”
Huupsitas provides independent seniors with the ability to age in place. Half the units have their rent geared to income where rent is 30% of the tenant’s income. Nine units will be rented to households with very low incomes, such as those receiving income or disability assistance or a basic senior’s pension. The remaining units will be rented at the low end of market rents, between $750 for a one-bedroom and $850 for a two-bedroom. Ten of the units are fully wheelchair accessible, while the remaining units can be easily adapted if a tenant’s accessibility needs change in the future. The building is open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents.
This project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province has more than 77,000 homes delivered or underway, including nearly 480 homes in Port Alberni.