February 19, 2011

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (Minister Responsible for Housing) Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
$2M FOR TRANSITIONAL AND SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IN KAMLOOPS
KAMLOOPS – The governments of Canada and British Columbia invested more than $2-million to purchase and renovate Crossroads Inn and today they officially opened the development that has 50 units of transitional and supportive housing for people in Kamloops who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

“Our government is giving a hand-up to Canadians with housing needs and is helping those seeking to break free from the cycle of homelessness and poverty,” said Cathy McLeod, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Revenue and Member of Parliament for Kamloops–Thompson–Cariboo, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “We are pleased to be working with the ASK Wellness Centre in Kamloops. Through partnerships like these, we can help our most vulnerable citizens become more self-sufficient and find a place to call home.”

“Crossroads Inn will be a safe place for individuals to get the help and support they need to start a new life,” said Kevin Krueger, Minister of Social Development and MLA for Kamloops-South Thompson. “Increasing affordable housing options is a priority for our government. Partnerships like this are making a difference in the fight against homelessness, in Kamloops and across the province.”
“This is an important investment for our community – a development that will change the lives of people who call this home,” said Terry Lake, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson. “ASK Wellness will work closely with tenants to connect them with the community programs and services they need to stabilize, make healthier life choices and regain their independence.”

The Government of Canada, through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy (HPS) provided a grant of $346,000 and the Province of British Columbia provided over $1.8 million in mortgage financing toward the purchase of Crossroads Inn, located at 569 Seymour St. The Ask Wellness Centre (ASK) provided $195,000 in equity toward the purchase of this development.
“The transitional housing and onsite support services offered at Crossroads Inn are a welcome addition to our city,” said Kamloops Mayor Peter Milobar. “This partnership between the federal and provincial governments, along with the Ask Wellness Centre, is an important advance in the City‟s effort to reduce homelessness.”

ASK, which will own, manage and operate Crossroads Inn, is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing awareness, education, advocacy and housing to those in need in order to develop healthier communities.
“We are thrilled with the tremendous support we received from our government partners in making the purchase of Crossroads Inn a reality,” said Bob Hughes, executive director of ASK Wellness Centre. “Through Crossroads Inn, people in Kamloops will receive the proper support and care they need as they re-establish themselves in this community.”
The Homelessness Partnering Strategy emphasizes longer-term supportive and transitional housing by focusing on a housing-first approach to help people make the transition out of the cycle of homelessness. The Government of Canada is investing over $1.9 billion over five years, until 2014, for housing and homelessness programs for low-income Canadians.
Canada‟s Economic Action Plan has built on these investments by making an additional one-time investment of more than $2 billion over two years in new and existing social housing, and by making available up to $2 billion in loans to Canadian municipalities over two years for housing-related infrastructure improvements. To learn more about Canada‟s Economic Action Plan, please visit: www.actionplan.gc.ca
For more information on the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, please visit: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/homelessness
In 2010-11, the Province will invest over $562 million to provide affordable housing and fight homelessness – more than four times as much as in 2001. In Kamloops, the government will invest close to $6 million this year to support approximately 1,800 households through rental assistance programs and subsidized housing.
„Breaking the Cycle of Homelessness‟ is a website providing a comprehensive and detailed look at provincial programs and services to address homelessness. Visit www.bchousing.org/breakingthecycle for more information.


BACKGROUNDER

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (Minister Responsible for Housing) Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
CROSSROADS INN
The ASK Wellness Centre‟s (ASK) Crossroads Inn, located at 569 Seymour St. in Kamloops, provides 50 single-room-occupancy apartments of transitional and supportive housing for people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
PARTNERS AND FUNDING
The total capital cost of this project is approximately $2.38 million.

• The Government of Canada, through the Homelessness Partnering Strategy, has approved a grant of $346,000 toward the purchase of this building.
• The Province of British Columbia provided over $1.8 million in mortgage financing.
• The ASK Wellness Centre (ASK) provided $195,000 in cash equity.

ASK WELLNESS CENTRE (ASK)
ASK is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in need through the provision of awareness, education, advocacy, housing, and support related to HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, marginalization and persons at risk, in order to develop healthier communities.
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province‟s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province‟s website at www.gov.bc.ca.