People experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming unhoused in Surrey will soon have a new home with supports.
Bentley Place, a new supportive housing building, is located at 13559 Bentley Rd. just off King George Boulevard, close to Gateway SkyTrain station.
“Supportive homes help bring people indoors, where they can have access to supports and get connected to services that will help them,” said Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs Christine Boyle.
“These homes will go a long way to ensure more people in Surrey are getting the care and support they need when they fall on hard times. We know our communities are stronger and more connected when we take care of each other and we are committed to building homes that create full, complete communities.”
The new six-storey building will be run by Phoenix Society, a non-profit organization based in Surrey.
Supports included in Bentley Place include 24/7 staffing, daily meals, life skills and employment training, access to health supports and connections to community services.
The building also has security measures, like well-lit fenced grounds, camera monitoring, and a controlled single point of entry.
“We know people experiencing homelessness need warm, safe indoor places to go during a time of need and I’m thrilled to see these homes open in my community,” said Amna Shah, MLA for Surrey-City Centre.
“These homes will immediately help people experiencing homelessness in Surrey find good places to live where they can stabilize their lives through support services and connection. I’m grateful to all partners for their work on making these homes a reality.”
The building was made possible by several partnerships between the province, BC Housing, the Government of Canada, City of Surrey, and Phoenix Society.
“Bentley Place means 60 people in Surrey will now have a permanent place to call home, with the supports they need to stay housed and improve their health,” said Justine Patterson, CEO of Phoenix Society. “Supportive housing works because housing is healthcare — it helps people access care, keeps people safe and creates stronger, more resilient communities.”
The City of Surrey bought the land for Bentley place and waived the development cost charges.
The province contributed approximately $18.5 million from the Supportive Housing Fund, along with approximately $2.4 million in annual operating funding.