Housing won’t be ready till next year

Former tent city residents will have to wait a few more months to move into transitional housing at the old Super 8 hotel on Douglas Street.

The 51-unit supportive housing building was scheduled to open this month but will not be ready until February 2017.

The delay is due to installation of fire sprinklers in the individual units, said B.C. Housing.

The province purchased the building at 2915 Douglas St. in June as part of a $26-million investment in housing. It was prompted by a tent city on the courthouse lawn at Quadra Street and Burdett Avenue. The homeless camp, which was set up last fall, was dismantled in August.

A B.C. Supreme Court order stated that the camp couldn’t be shut down until housing was available to campers.

The province also purchased the former Central Care Home on Johnson Street and Mount Edwards Court on Vancouver Street. Both sites are already operating. It provided funding for three transitional shelters, as well.

PHS services, formerly known as the Portland Hotel Society, will operate the Douglas Street building, which will provide short-term stays with supportive services such as meals and health care.

The Vancouver-based organization also operates the Johnson Street building, now being referred to as the Johnson Street Community.