WHITE ROCK, January 20, 2005 -- A groundbreaking ceremony for Evergreen Heights, a new affordable assisted living development for seniors, was held today in White Rock. The new development will provide 84 assisted-living apartments for seniors under the Independent Living BC (ILBC) program, an innovative housing-for-health program that meets the needs of lower income seniors and people with disabilities.The new development will represent the first publicly-funded assisted living apartments in the South Surrey-White Rock community and will complete a campus of care which includes existing housing and care facilities for seniors. The development is expected to be complete by early 2006 and will be owned and operated by the Evergreen Heights Baptist Housing Society, which provides housing for independent seniors and residential care for people with complex care needs on its grounds."Those who need it the most in White Rock will be able to live in a quality environment and continue to contribute to their communities," said the Honourable Stephen Owen, Minister of Western Economic Diversification and Minister of State (Sport), on behalf of the Honourable Joe Fontana, Minister of Labour and Housing. "This funding partnership enables seniors to continue to live in their community, near their families and friends, and ensures that they enjoy a high quality of life.""Evergreen Heights is a wonderful example of how the Independent Living BC program provides our seniors with increased choices," said Gordon Hogg, Surrey-White Rock MLA. "It will provide a full range of options for our seniors to help them meet their unique care and affordable housing needs in their home community.""Providing choices for our seniors is an important part of our mission," said Linda Ingham, Administrator of The Evergreen Heights Baptist Housing Society. "We're working with partners who share this goal - providing our seniors the opportunity to remain in the community as their care needs change."The Evergreen Heights Baptist Housing Society adds this assisted living development to an established commitment to care for seniors, expanding the range of housing and care options currently available to seniors who are living longer, healthier lives."Locating a full range of services - from housing to assisted living to complex care - on the Evergreen campus will benefit the significant population of seniors living in South Surrey-White Rock," said Bob Smith, President and CEO of Fraser Health. "A campus of care promotes easier access to health services and living arrangements that are appropriate and responsive to a senior's changing care needs."The ILBC program is managed by BC Housing in partnership with the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), and the regional health authorities. The Evergreen Heights Baptist Housing Society contributed to this development by providing both land and financial backing.The Province, through B.C. Housing and the ILBC program, is committed to providing 3,500 affordable apartments with support services across the province by 2006. To date more than 2,660 ILBC units have been allocated, 76 percent of the program, in communities across the province.ILBC is funded in part through the Canada-British Columbia Affordable Housing Agreement. The Government of Canada, through CMHC, will contribute $130 million by 2008 towards affordable housing in this province. The provincial government, through B.C. Housing, will provide a minimum of $34 million annually to subsidize the costs of units built under this agreement, as part of a larger strategy to provide a range of housing options for British Columbians in greatest need.Contact:Larisa SaundersCommunications CoordinatorB.C. Housing(604) 439-4757(604) 790-2344 (cell)Christina WensleyEvents CoordinatorCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation(604) 737-4032David PlugMedia Relations AdvisorFraser Health(604) 587-4604Linda InghamAdministratorEvergreen Heights Baptist Housing Society(604) 541-3832View related speechBackgrounderThe Evergreen Heights assisted living development will be an 86-unit apartment building. Eighty-four of the units will be assisted living apartments funded by the Independent Living B.C. (ILBC) program. The remaining two units will operate as guest suites. The new assisted living development will be an eight-storey apartment building with two elevators, partial underground parking, and storage and service areas. Construction is expected to be completed and the building opened by mid-2006. The assisted living units will complete a "campus of care" at the site which has been developed over the last 40 years. Currently, Evergreen is funded by B.C. Housing for 110 units of independent seniors' housing and funded by Fraser Health for 157 residential care beds on the site. The entire campus of care will stretch across six acres of land. Under ILBC, Fraser Health will add more than 1,000 new assisted living apartments across the health authority by 2006/07, including campuses of care with residential care in White Rock, Surrey, Delta, Port Coquitlam, Abbotsford and Agassiz. Under ILBC, Fraser Health expects to award another 42 assisted living units in the South Surrey – White Rock area in 2005. Tenants in the ILBC units will receive two meals a day, personal care services, a 24-hour response service, social and recreational opportunities, and weekly housekeeping and linen services. Housing and care services will be provided at fixed rates based on tenants' after-tax income. Partnership ContributionsThe federal government, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is providing a $2.1 million capital grant. The provincial government, through B.C. Housing, will provide a housing subsidy of $12,978,888 over 35 years. Fraser Health Authority is providing funding for personal care services estimated at $1.2 million annually. The Evergreen Heights Baptist Housing Society is providing over $2.5 million in land equity and cash. This is a significant contribution from a non-profit society.
