City Council has fast-tracked the Fourth Avenue low barrier housing project.
The city purchased three lots neighbouring a parking lot, where dilapidated trailers and campers are rented to impoverished people.
Mayor Sharie Minions says tiny homes will be brought in next month, before the trailers are cleared out.
“Moving the residents of the trailers will be a combined effort,” she said. “The city will of course have a role in that, but it will be working with service providers to ensure residents of the trailers will be able to safely move over.”
A partnership between the city, Port Alberni Friendship Centre, BC Housing and local First Nations, Mayor Minions said the fully supervised site will feature up to 30 low-barrier sleeping pods.
“At this point we have operating funding in place for up to 3 years through BC Housing to provide funding for staffing of up to 30 units,” she said. “We are still working with BC Housing on the shortfall that exists but we’re optimistic that in the next two weeks we’ll be hearing from BC Housing that they’ll be able to fully fund the current project.”
Minions said legal action will be taken to ensure the trailers aren’t replaced once the offending property is cleared.
Each tiny home will contain a bed, mini fridge, desk & chair and storage for clothing, and there will be onsite restrooms, showers, food, and counselling resources.
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