The operator of a new homeless shelter and transition housing now under construction in Coquitlam promises open communication and opportunities for volunteerism when the $13-million facility opens next year.
Sean Spear, associate director of RainCity Housing, said his organization has learned through experience building and running social housing projects in Vancouver that open communication and networking with neighbours and the wider community is important for the success of the operation at 3030 Gordon Ave.
"Building relationships, starting to grow them, awareness, the details around the impact of construction and answering questions about the operation," Spear said in listing his upcoming to-do list."We want to continue to connect and build connections with the neighbours."
For now, though, the main task is bringing people up to speed on what the next few weeks of construction will look like as excavation and pile-driving will be necessary to provide a stable foundation for the facility, which will provide 30 shelter beds and 30 units of transition housing for longer stays and services for homeless people.
The project is expected to stick to the city's noise bylaw standards and Spear said the contractor, Ventana Construction, was hired in part because of its ability to work with the community.
Spear also promised open lines of communication and will be visiting neighbours close to construction site, between Lougheed Highway and Westwood Street. An information sheet will be distributed and RainCity has a page dedicated to 3030 Gordon Avenue on its website (www.raincityhousing.org) that has a place to email questions.
At left: Sandy Burpee, Tri-Cities Homelessness and Housing Task Group and Sean Spear of RainCity Housing in front of 3030 Gordon Ave., where construction of housing for homeless people is taking place.
24 HOUR STAFFING
Spear said he hopes to build on relations from previous design workshops that involved the community and when the shelter and transition housing complex opens up next fall, a community advisory committee will be in place and there will be open houses, barbecues and opportunities in the future for people to volunteer and make donations.
Staff will be on site 24 hours a day and while Spear doesn't anticipate problems, he said his organization has maintained good relations with the community in other projects because issues and concerns are dealt with courteously and as quickly as possible.
"We want to operate with pride and build those relationships [the question we are asking is] how can we continue to have that open approach."
HFFS OUTREACH
One issue RainCity is working through with the Tri-Cities Homelessness Task Group, which has spearheaded the facility, is how to keep volunteers involved after the temporary bridge shelter run by the Hope for Freedom Society in five local churches is phased out.
One of the critical factors in obtaining BC Housing funding and endorsement of the Coquitlam facility is the depth of commitment and involvement by church groups, schools and residents in supporting people who are homeless, said Spear, who acknowledged that donations and volunteers will still be needed once the facility is open.
And he said there will still be an important role to play for HFFS outreach workers who will continue to work with homeless people in the Tri-Cities once 3030 Gordon is up and running, only they will have more options for support, he said.
"They will have a whole new capacity," he said.
