Nearly 50 new affordable rental units have opened in Port Alberni for seniors and people with disabilities.
The apartment building, located at 6161 Russell Pl., has 45 one-bedroom units and three two-bedroom units.
Half of the units will be rented to low income tenants, such as those who are receiving income or disability assistance, or a basic senior’s pension. These units will be rented at 30 per cent of the tenant’s total income.
Meanwhile, the other half of the units will be rented between $750 for a one-bedroom and $850 for a two-bedroom.
The new five-storey building, called Huupsitas – or “side of a hill” in Nuu-chah-nulth – is located on the five-acre Tsawaayuus Rainbow Gardens Campus of Care, which also includes another 44-unit complex care facility and a 20-unit independent living apartment building.
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The hope is that this new building will allow seniors who are independent to age in place in Port Alberni.
“The Huupsitas building will provide the kind of stability and security that seniors and people living with disabilities need more of, so they can retire in the community they know and love,” said Ravi Kahlon, minister of housing.
The province provided roughly $5 million to build the new five-storey apartment building, and will provide it with a $300,000 annual operating fund. The land for the building was provided by the WestCoast Native Health Care Society.
Huupsitas will be open to both Indigenous and non-Indigenous residents.
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Adam Chan
