New Units Coming For Those Experiencing Homelessness In Campbell River

Campbell River will soon be seeing a new building to help people experiencing homelessness. HEARTH Village was announced yesterday.

“I’m excited that our government is partnering with the City of Campbell River for the creation of HEARTH Village,” said Michele Babchuk, MLA for North Island.

“This project was first proposed at the Union of BC Municipalities conference in September 2023, and I’m proud of how quickly we’ve been able to move from concept to construction. This project also couldn’t have happened without the support of Mental Health and Addictions Minister Jennifer Whiteside and local community members.”

Located at 1299 Homewood Road, the site will have individual units for as many as 40 people to sleep and store their belongings, as well as a shared amenity space and washrooms.

An experienced non-profit organization is being retained to operate the facility, with staff on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

They will provide support services, such as daily meals, access to skills training, and health and community support referrals.

It’s being developed through a partnership between the Province, BC Housing, and the City of Campbell River.

The Province, through BC Housing, is providing capital costs and funding, which is currently being determined.

The City of Campbell River is providing the land for the project, as well as funding the civil works and site preparation costs. It is expected that HEARTH Village could open by mid-2024.

Mayor Kermit Dahl says Campbell River has an urgent need to serve people who are experiencing homelessness, and to help address encampments and associated challenges in the community.

He says the partnership with the Province will reduce some of the challenges the city is experiencing and will provide new, safe housing options.

The project is part of a $19-billion housing investment by the B.C. government. Since 2017, the Province says it has delivered, or has started work on, nearly 78,000 homes through the initiative, including about 280 in Campbell River.

To learn more, visit Government of British Columbia.