The city plans to move the Connect Centre out of downtown to a proposed facility in eastern Courtenay.
In a phone call to the Record, Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells confirmed the Connect Centre homelessness service is slated to be moved to a proposed facility at 925 Braidwood Avenue. The proposed facility was announced last week and is scheduled to begin construction in 2025.
“It has always been a temporary location,” said Wells of the Connect Centre. “I am happy to see that B.C. Housing really stepped up and has heard our concerns.”
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Wells said the city has been pushing for a “purpose built” facility such as the one announced last week. A designated location would allow Courtenay to conclude its lease of the Connect Centre on Cliffe Avenue, and move the service elsewhere.
There was no word in the Province of B.C.’s announcement about when the new facility will be finished.
It has been difficult to secure new locations for the Connect Centre, Wells said, due to issues finding property to lease. He said the location was meant to relocate even in 2021, but a deal fell through.
The new purpose-built location ensures that the Connect Centre can move, but does not depend upon a lease. The location at Braidwood Avenue is owned by the Province of B.C. and so is thought to be more permanent.
The proposal at Braidwood Avenue announced last week would be roughly 60 units of supportive housing in the neighbourhood near the RCMP detachment on Ryan Road. It would also have a separate unit with room for roughly 40 shelter beds, and a space that could function as an extreme weather response shelter.
The weather shelter would alleviate some stress for the City of Courtenay, which had difficulty this winter season securing a venue.
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