Supportive Housing welcomes first tenants

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The first five tenants have moved into the recently constructed supportive housing complex in Fort St. John, after months of delays.

Salvation Army executive director Jared Braun says most of the initial tenants are existing clients in some way.

“Most of the tenants are familiar to us, we have a relationship with them, which is very helpful,” Braun said.

A brand new team was hired to work at the facility, which will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“They have all undergone training and orientation, so this week, they began their first shift,” Braun said.

The plan is to move people in gradually so they can “get settled into their new space and get the staff accustomed to serving them.”

Over the next couple of months, Braun expects all 42 units of the facility to be filled.

The executive director says the Salvation Army has worked with representatives across many local organizations to find applicants that best meet the eligibility criteria for staying in the housing.

“We have that full list and a waiting list already, as well. The need is definitely there,” Braun said.

Through a grant provided by Social Planning and Research Council of BC, the Salvation Army can also purchase 42 “welcome home” kits, that include items such as laundry baskets, cleaning supplies, and linens for when tenants move in.

“All those things that really help you feel settled and feel at home,” Braun said.

The conversation about supportive housing in the Fort St. John area started back in 2020, and when Braun started at the local Salvation Army in 2021, the plans were just starting to be developed.

Construction began in November 2021 and originally, the building was expected to be completed by the fall of 2022, but due to hydro delays, the completion date got pushed back.

In November 2022, the Salvation Army held a grand opening event, with many local representatives attending.

The most recent delay in getting tenants into the building were legal factors relating to the tenant and occupancy agreement between the Salvation Army and the new tenants.

“Because this is a very new type of program for the Salvation Army, we just went through a very thorough process to ensure that we were going to be able to start this in the best way possible,” Braun said.

Though the program is not new to BC Housing, it is new for the Salvation Army. The Fort St. John Salvation Army is only the second location in Canada to open a supportive housing facility, Braun said.

Most of the needs for the facility are being taken care of by provincial funding, but the executive director asks community members to donate to the food bank and the thrift store when they can.

“My encouragement is for Fort St. John to continue to be a welcoming community. We really look forward to offering this new form of housing as one more tool, one more solution in meeting some of the greatest needs,” Braun said.

For more information on supportive housing, follow the Fort St. John Salvation Army Facebook page.