Scott Stanfield
Record Staff
It will be a few more weeks before the City of Courtenay issues a Request for Proposal for the construction and operation of a housing project at Braidwood Road on the east side of town.
Council approved Monday a motion from Doug Hillian to have staff revise a draft RFP — which the previous council had staff prepare in September. Revisions will include a number of wording changes in the document.
The proposed complex at 810 Braidwood Rd. is not to be a homeless shelter but a supportive housing project to address a wide range of in-need and at-risk tenants. BC Housing has provided $50,000 in the form of a loan but has indicated no operating subsidies will be available. Council had therefore broadened the terms of reference to an affordable housing model.
Given the absence of ongoing assistance from BC Housing, support services would likely need to be provided on an outreach basis by non-profits or government agencies from a remote location, as opposed to onsite, if such services are required at the facility.
“I hope we’re wrong,” said social planning consultant John Jessup, who has been retained by the city.
Jessup is part of a working group that will review proposals and recommend a proponent to council.
The RFP is the result of discussions with a number of non-profits, BC Housing staff, council, and provincial staff and ministers. Invitations were mailed to more than 1,000 neighbouring residents to attend information sessions in April. Additional public consultation will be required by the selected proponent.
reporter@comoxvalleyrecord.com