Canadian Mortgage News

January 2007 National News Archive

New Assisted Living Units Open for Ashcroft Seniors

ASHCROFT, British Columbia, June 15, 2007 — Federal, provincial and community partners gathered today to celebrate the opening of the Thompson View Manor Society’s Thompson View Lodge, a $4 million, 10-unit assisted living development for seniors and persons with disabilities.

“Canada’s New Government is committed to making affordable housing more available in British Columbia and across Canada for those who need it most,” said Betty Hinton, Member of Parliament for Kamloops – Thompson – Cariboo and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. “With the opening of this project, seniors in Ashcroft will now have access to quality, affordable housing and the services they need to meet their specific needs, while remaining close to their families and friends.”

The new units are funded under Independent Living BC, an innovative housing-for-health program managed by the Province in partnership with the Government of Canada.

“Today’s opening reflects the provincial government’s commitment to ensure seniors have access to independent, affordable housing,” said the Honourable Claude Richmond, MLA for Kamloops and Minister of Employment and Income Assistance. “These new homes provide Ashcroft seniors the opportunity to stay close to friends, family and neighbours.”

Assisted living homes are self-contained apartments where residents receive hospitality and personal care services, such as meals, housekeeping and laundry services, recreational opportunities, assistance with medications, mobility and other care needs, as well as a 24-hour response system. The residence is managed by the Thompson View Manor Society, with Interior Health providing funding for support services.

“Seniors would prefer to live independently in a safe home-like environment with personalized support in their own community as long as possible,” said Alan Dolman, Board Chair for Interior Health. “Interior Health is committed to improving access to care throughout our service area. Thompson View Lodge will further increase the continuum of housing and care options for seniors in the Interior.”

The new development is a modular building that is attached to an existing 15-unit building of seniors’ apartments, also managed by the Thompson View Manor Society. “Our board wanted to expand Thompson View Manor for several years,” said society chair Vivian Edwards. “There is a great need for assisted living in Ashcroft and the whole community is excited that the time has come for Thompson View Lodge to open.”

Thompson View Lodge is operated under Mentorship, a program administered through Interior Health and InSite Housing Hospitality Health Services Inc., a Vancouver-based company specializing in the operation of supportive and assisted living developments. InSite is mentoring Thompson View Manor Society until which time the Society will assume direct operation of the full range of housing, hospitality and personal care at the Lodge.

These new units are part of the British Columbia government’s commitment to provide 5,000 net-new residential care beds, assisted living units, and supportive housing with home support units by the end of 2008. To date, 8,494 new and replacement beds and units have been built, including 3,196 net-new.

The Province of British Columbia is committed to providing more than 4,000 affordable assisted living apartments for B.C. seniors and persons with disabilities. To date, more than 3,900 have been allocated in communities across the province. The Province’s budget for shelters and affordable housing is $328 million — nearly triple what it was in 2001.

The Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, will contribute more than $130 million by 2010 towards affordable housing in this province. The provincial government will provide a minimum of $34 million annually to subsidize the cost of units built under the Canada – BC Affordable Housing Agreement, as part of a larger strategy to provide a range of housing options for British Columbians in greatest need.

Contact:

See related speech

Backgrounder

Thompson View Lodge

Thompson View Lodge, at 710 Elm Street in Ashcroft, provides 10 one-bedroom assisted living units for seniors and persons with disabilities. All of the units in the one-storey, modular, wood-frame building are wheelchair accessible. Thompson View Lodge, attached to the existing one-storey seniors’ building, Thompson View Manor, was completed in March 2007 and residents began moving in that same month.

Tenants will pay 70 per cent of their after-tax income for their units and receive hospitality and personal care services, such as meals, housekeeping and laundry, recreational programs, assistance with medications, mobility and other care needs, and a 24-hour response system.

Partners and Funding

The capital cost of this project is $3,992,160, with funding from:

• The Government of Canada, through CMHC, provided $750,000 under the Canada – BC Affordable Housing Program Agreement;
• The provincial government is providing a housing subsidy of $120,000 per year for 35 years, and also provided $450,000 in grants.
• Interior Health is providing funding for personal care and part of the hospitality services to tenants in the amount of $321,000. Interior Health has also entered into a long term Land Lease with the Society.

Thompson View Manor Society

Thompson View Manor Society was formed in 1975 to provide housing for low-income seniors and people with disabilities. The society also manages Thompson View Manor on the same site.

News source: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)