Vancouver Single Room Occupancy (SRO) Renewal Initiative

operational

Opportunity The Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, once the heart of the city, is home to a growing number of individuals struggling to maintain stable housing. Homelessness in Vancouver is a complex issue, with many individuals dealing with mental illness, addictions and/or physical disabilities. Providing the homeless with access to stable housing with integrated support services, is a key priority of BC Housing. Beginning in 2007 BC housing acquired 24 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) hotels in Vancouver’s Downtown East Side as part of its strategy to address homelessness in community however many of these buildings had suffered decades of neglect and deferred maintenance resulting in sub-standard living conditions. The government opted for a unique P3 that would see 13 of these provincially-owned SRO hotels renovated and restored. The federal government has shown their support for the project with a $29.1 million contribution towards eligible construction and implementation costs through the P3 Canada Fund. Challenges The SRO hotels are over 100 years old with structural, plumbing and electrical infrastructure that requires extensive renovations to extend their lives. Nine of the SRO buildings are either City of Vancouver or federal heritage buildings and must be updated with respect to their historical features. The renovation process had to accommodate the approximately 900 residents who currently live in these buildings. Innovations HHI is incented to perform through a monthly payment mechanism that is based on the principles of performance, facility availability and service quality. Payment can be reduced if set standards are not met. Results HHI has negotiated a lease for up to 175 privately-owned rental units that were previously unoccupied due to substandard conditions. They will be renovated to be used for the project. Importantly these restored units will be added to the inventory of privately owned SRO hotel rooms available in the community. As part of the final agreement, the private partner has agreed to provide 60 person years of skills development, training and employment opportunities for residents. Renovation of the buildings included the green features such as high-quality and energy efficient windows and insulation; energy efficient boilers and upgraded heat and ventilation systems helping BC Housing achieve its legislated mandate to be carbon neutral. The final result was satisfactory accommodation for 900 people.  “The project is an excellent example of how the private sector can leverage greater value for public dollars and deliver an infrastructure solution that combines innovation with cost and schedule certainty. We look forward to continuing our successful partnership with HHI to deliver this project. We have every confidence that the project will be delivered on time and on budget.” - Shayne Ramsay, CEO, British Columbia Housing Management System Learn more at: Case Studies

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