A provincial government MLA was in Prince George on Friday to help unveil an artist’s rendering and floor plan for the Prince George Elizabeth Fry Society’s social housing complex, planned for a site next to Studio 2880 on 15th Avenue.
Intended to give women and children escaping violent relationships a safe place to regroup, recover and begin rebuilding their lives, it will consist of 18 transition house beds, 16 units of second-stage housing and 21 townhouses for permanent affordable housing.
It’s one of a dozen initial projects adding up to 280 homes across the province that will be funded through the Building BC: Women’s Transition Fund. Over the longer term of 10 years, $734 million has been earmarked through the fund to build 1,500 transition housing, second-stage housing and long-term housing spaces.
Mitzi Dean, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, joined Prince George Elizabeth Fry Society executive director Kathi Heim and Mayor Lyn Hall for the event, held at the Wood Innovation and Design Centre.
“We have a clear responsibility to help women and children in need in Prince George and around the province,” Dean said in a statement. “Our government is working hard to make sure that help is always available.
“These new homes in Prince George will assure women and children in violent situations that there are safe and supportive spaces they can turn to and begin the journey of rebuilding.”
Dean said the cost of the Prince George project is still going through BC Housing’s development and approval process but in October, a Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing spokesperson said $15.6 million has been approved for the project. The project was first announced in November 2016.
Construction is expected to start in fall 2019.
