Youth aged 17-30 in Nanaimo will soon have access to new affordable housing,
thanks to an accepted offer for the Nanaimo Youth Services Association to
purchase a historic rooming house at 545 Haliburton St.
The
society will purchase and extensively renovate the building, formerly known as
the Rowe Residence, to provide 14 to 16 apartments for employed youth. An
additional apartment will be designated for an on-site resident manager to
provide support to the residents.
Many
of the youth will have completed the Nanaimo Youth Services Association’s
BladeRunner program – a youth employment training program which provides
employment and skills to out-of-school and unemployed youth. This new housing
will provide an affordable option as they progress into their working lives.
The
government of B.C. will provide construction financing of $302,000. The City of
Nanaimo will provide a $75,000 grant from their Housing Legacy Fund for the
project.
Youth
and staff from the Nanaimo Youth Services Association, along with partners from
the local Rotary Club, will be hosting a clean-up of the site on Saturday, Sept.
29, 2012 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Members of the community are welcome to drop by
during this time to meet the society.
As a former resident of 545 Haliberton, I am totally delighted the house is being given a new life... it was a wonderful place to live in the late 60's. A melting pot of young and old, male and female.. My room was ground floor front left.. Well done guys!!
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