The former Abbeyfield House on the grounds of St. Margaret of Scotland at 1010 Sperling Ave. is now the Elspeth Alley Housing for Elder Women.
The 23-unit residence is designated for older women who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Support services at the facility will include a 24/7 live-in coordinator, life skills education and training and treatment support.
"We are thrilled to be a part of a new women's-only supported housing program, especially one for elder women and one outside the Downtown Eastside," said Janice Abbott, chief executive officer of the Atira Women's Resource Society. "Elspeth's is a new and critical resource and we look forward to working alongside the women who will live there."
Abbott said Atira has worked with St. Margaret's for the past 18 months on how to best utilize the space.
In May 2011, Abbeyfield was down to only nine residents and Abbott was asked to help with the management and long-term vision for the facility. As Atira assumed more responsibility for the facility, Abbott and the church, along with the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, started looking into how the facility could be better utilized.
"Abbeyfield's business model was struggling and we needed to find a better model," said Abbott.
Atira assumed the mortgage for the facility and started working with the provincial government on starting up the Elspeth Alley facility.
Atira applied for and received $33,871 in one-time costs from the province to complete capital improvements and for start-up costs.
In addition, the province will provide annual operational funding of $165,000 for the provision of support services and the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster will lease the land to Atira at a nominal rate for 44 years.
As for the nine women at Abbeyfield, all but two have been successfully relocated or transitioned to equivalent or better facilities, according to Abbott.
"Many of them are in the Swedish Manor, which just opened in August," said Abbott. "We have one woman on a wait list and we think we will have her in another facility in January."
And the last former resident of Abbeyfield, a woman in her mid-20s who has a developmental disability, is one of the 23 residents of the Elspeth Alley facility.
"We're very happy that she's a part of this facility," said Abbott, who said the other residents range in age from 56 to 70 and the facility has been full since it opened. The residents come mainly from Burnaby, New Westminster and Vancouver.
The new house is named after Elspeth Alley, one of the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada and the first woman to be ordained in the Archdiocese of New Westminster.
The Very Reverend Peter Elliott, dean of the Anglican Diocese of New Westminster, said he remembers Alley, now deceased, very fondly, especially the date of Nov. 30, 1976, when she was ordained.
"I know she would be humbled and proud to have her name remembered this way," said Elliott. "She would be thrilled that this is a place where women can live in a place of safety.
"This is indeed a good day, as we are providing spaces for people to live. . This is a day to celebrate."
Deb Jack, who serves on Atira's board, was also pleased with the facility.
"It's very exciting that we're involved with Elspeth Alley," said Jack. "We are proud of the programs and services we offer at Atira."
Harry Bloy, MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed, said, "Elspeth Alley for Elder Women is the result of many partners working together to make a difference in people's lives. I know this development will have a positive impact in Burnaby for many years to come.
"This is a great addition to the community."
