Opening safe housing for women leaving violence in Campbell River

Women and children leaving violence now have 55 additional safe places to call home.

This is thanks to a partnership between the province, through Housing BC, the Campbell River and North Island Transition Association.

“These new transitional spaces in Eagle Harbor will serve as a safety net for women and children leaving violence,” said Michelle Babchuk, North Island MLA. “I am grateful to the Campbell River and North Island Transitional Association for creating and operating these new homes so that we can ensure safe housing for vulnerable community members for years to come.”

Eagle Harbor is a five-story building newly opened for women and people of different genders leaving violence. It contains 36 residential units in the second phase with on-site support intended for use as short-stay temporary housing. Eagle Harbor also has 19 affordable rental units for more permanent housing options.

“Women and genderqueer people should have a safe place when they need it, and Eagle Harbor provides life-changing relief for those who need a home beyond transitional housing,” said Kelly Baddon, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equality. “Our government will continue to take action to build safer, more supportive communities while ensuring survivors of violence get the care and support they need.”

Residents will pay either 30% of their income for rent, or for those receiving income or disability assistance, the regional shelter rate.

“On behalf of the City of Campbell River, we are thrilled to see this much-needed housing open,” said Kermit Dahl, Mayor of Campbell River. “These Phase II homes and long-term affordable housing units for women and children will help break the cycle of abuse and provide a safe home for individuals to succeed. Thank you to the County for funding this development and the Campbell River and North Island Transition Association for making this important project a reality.”

The association will operate the new homes. The province, through Housing BC, invested approximately $21 million through the Women’s Transitional Housing Fund (WTHF) for the project. More than $1 million in annual operating funding will also be provided for the building.

“It has been a long road to complete this new housing while supporting the women and their children of Campbell River, but the result makes it all worth it,” said Valerie Boetz, former executive director of the Campbell River and North Island Transitional Association. “This is a great addition to the services our community provides.”

This development is part of a $19 billion housing investment by the British Columbia government. Since 2017, the county has more than 76,000 homes delivered or under construction, including nearly 300 in Campbell River.

quick Facts:

• The Women’s Transitional Housing Fund was established in 2018 as a $734 million investment over 10 years to build and operate 1,500 transitional housing, second-stage housing, and long-term housing spaces for women and children leaving violence.
• As part of the province’s new housing plan, Housing for People, the government is investing an additional $1.3 billion over the next 10 years to double the number of spaces allocated to the Women’s Transitional Housing Fund, bringing the total to 3,000.
• To date, nearly 1,000 units have been completed or are under construction, giving women and their children a place to regroup and rebuild their lives.
• As is generally the case with projects on women and children leaving violence, the title of this project has not been disclosed for safety reasons.

Learn more:

To learn more about the government’s new Homes for People action plan, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023HOUS0019-000436

To learn about the steps the province is taking to address the housing crisis and provide affordable homes for British Columbians, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/housing/