A nightly shelter will soon open in downtown New West but plans for a permanent shelter are still being explored.
At the July 11 council meeting, city staff provided an update about affordable housing projects that are planned for New West. That includes plans for a nightly and 24/7 emergency response centre shelter at 502 Columbia St.
The former Army & Navy Department Store was home to an extreme weather shelter from Dec. 31, 2021 to March 31, 2022. BC Housing, the Lower Mainland Purpose Society and the City of New Westminster have been working together to create an emergency response centre that would operate 24/7 and include shelter and support services.
John Stark, the city’s supervisor of community planning, said BC Housing engaged a code consultant because some upgrades will be required to the building if it’s to be used as an 24/7 shelter, rather than a nightly shelter that’s open from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. He said upgrades would be required to the building, as well as sanitation.
“That code consultant has completed their work; they're looking at some of the building systems in that structure. And we hope to have more information back by probably the end of August, first week of September,” he told council. “And when that information is available, a decision will be made as to a 24/7 shelter, because I guess it will be the cost of those upgrades.”
Stark noted the building’s owner would also have to be supportive of any upgrades being proposed to the building.
“In the interim, we are moving towards a nightly shelter. BC Housing, it looks like they're willing to fund a nightly shelter,” he said. “We're hoping to have that up and operational by Aug. 1.”
The nightly shelter would operate from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m.
“With regards to timelines, BC Housing has stated the nightly shelter, they could likely operate for a significant period of time,” he said.
Coun. Chinu Das expressed concern about delays in opening the emergency response centre, noting it was envisioned as a way of providing housing until the new supportive housing project is built on Sixth Street. If that emergency response centre doesn’t open, she’s concerned the homeless population will not be housed anywhere.
Stark said the nightly shelter is being planned as an interim step.
“It wouldn't address the needs during the day, but it would definitely address needs during the evening,” he said. “And it would be 50 beds, around that nightly shelter. The idea is to get that operational as soon as possible; staffing is the concern right now, to hire staffing, which is really difficult in these times.”
Staff will report back to council once BC Housing has reviewed the costs of upgrading the building to accommodate a 24/7 shelter and has concluded discussions with the building owner about transitioning the space to a 24/7 shelter.
BC Housing says an assessment on the scope of necessary upgrades for a shelter in the building at 502 Columbia St. is underway, with an anticipated early fall reopening.
“We know this is a much-needed shelter for the community and are working diligently with the City of New Westminster and Lower Mainland Purpose Society to expedite this process while prioritizing the safety of residents and staff,” said a July 15 statement to the Record. “Once the shelter is in operation, it will initially open on a nightly basis and will eventually transition to 24/7.”
A change of plans
Work on a supportive housing project planned in downtown New West is expected to get underway soon, but it will be a little different than what was originally planned.
In December 2021, council approved an official community plan amendment and a rezoning to allow a 52-unit supportive housing project at 60 to 68 Sixth St. The plan was to create the housing in a four-storey modular building.
The July 11 staff report said work on the site will soon get underway and occupancy will take place in 30 to 36 months, if final project funding is approved.
“Originally anticipated to be a modular housing development, BC Housing has informed the city that although the modular construction is technically feasible, they are reverting to a traditional wood-frame construction due to site constraints (site size) and market conditions,” said the report. “Managed by a non-profit agency, preference for these units will be given to the locally unsheltered, with city staff and homeless outreach workers contributing to such decisions.”
In a statement to the Record, BC Housing stated it’s committed to moving forward with both projects as soon as possible, given the need for more housing and shelter options in New Westminster.
Regarding the supportive housing proposal on Sixth Street, BC Housing said it’s reassessing the construction method for the project and is considering either a modular build or a wood-frame build.
“BC Housing has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to secure an architect that could provide design for both wood-frame and modular construction for the proposed 68 Sixth St. supportive housing project,” said the statement. “While modular design development typically allows for quicker project completion, the size and layout of the site limits possible modular design options, and as a result, we will consider other purpose-built design options. We are in the process of reviewing multiple responses to this RFP. We will provide an update on the construction method and timeline once this information is available.”
