Winter is coming, and few people are more aware of that than those who work with local homeless and hard-to-house populations.
The city along with social service agencies are hoping to move more than two dozen people out of dilapidated trailers and into new sleeping pods on Fourth Avenue.
Final designs will arrive today for the 8’x12′ tiny homes.
Made in Surrey by Zendenz, the prefab structures will cost $17,000 and Port Alberni Friendship Centre executive director Cyndi Stevens said they hope to begin construction soon.
“We’re pushing to have this ready by November. We had hoped to open October 1st originally when we first started this project. It’s looking like it will more likely open November 15th-ish, possibly December, we’re hoping not that late but it’s likely.”
She said the Zendenz pods were considerably cheaper that the locally-constructed little homes, and had a better design for their needs.
Stevens said it’s important to provide safe housing to the most vulnerable.
“We’re here to make a difference in people’s lives that unfortunately have not always been supported,” she said. “We want to be the first place they come to, for a safe home to live in that’s warm and dry, that they have food in their bellies, that they have health care, that we can provide support for them to get to a place that they want to be and meet them where they’re at, and provide activities and cultural supports and whatever we possibly can for what they need, and to make sure people are not taking advantage of their vulnerable situation.”
Stevens said they have secured $750,000 for 2 support staff for each shift providing 24/7 care for the residents.
She said they’re waiting for approval to move forward, and working on receiving additional capital funding for 30 tiny homes.
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