The Burnaby Task Force on Homelessness is backing a proposal to turn a local motel into a social housing project.
"The task force is committed to working collaboratively with all parties that are moving forward in this process," said Wanda Mulholland. "We have continued to support the Burnaby partnership to look for suitable sites (for transitional housing). This is a very suitable site."
The site in question is the 401 Motor Inn, at 2950 Boundary Rd., on the border with Vancouver. The Portland Hotel Society, which runs housing projects in Vancouver, needs City of Burnaby approval to move the project forward.
"We want to propose some interim transitional housing. So this would be (for) people from Burnaby so they could stay for a couple of years and try to do better or try to get more permanent housing. There would be some supports and 24-hour staffing. That would be the plan," said Mark Townsend, executive director of the Portland Hotel Society. "What we are really asking from Burnaby council is some contribution, like being supportive of rezoning, or supportive of waiving development fees."
Townsend described the situation as a "house of cards," where one level of government wants to see what the other level will do before committing to the project.
"Obviously these are issues for senior levels of government," Townsend said, "but there are things cities can do without spending the money on buildings and staffing, and it seems to me that they are willing to do that, they are willing to be creative."
Even if Burnaby backs the proposal, it doesn't mean it will happen for sure, although Townsend said he remains hopeful.
The motel has more than 30 units, and Townsend said the owner is considering leasing it to a group like the society.
"In the future he wants to turn it into condos, so this is just an interim thing, but a good interim thing," Townsend said.
Jeanne Fike, executive director with Burnaby Family Life, is also backing the project.
"I hope the city will provide whatever support they can for this opportunity to become a reality," she said. "Burnaby Family Life is deeply concerned about the dire circumstances of many families we serve. Some teen mothers are trading sex for a place to sleep with their babies; immigrant and refugee families are living in overcrowded, substandard conditions and do not understand that there is legislation to protect their rights. The lack of affordable and adequate housing along with the lack of affordable child care is the most challenging concern faced by families living in poverty."
The Portland Hotel Society made a presentation to Burnaby councillors at a May 14 meeting, and city staff are now revising a report in response, which should be ready in a couple of weeks.
