Olympic athletes' quarters to house homeless

By Jeff Nagel - BC Local News Published: October 22, 2008

Temporary housing for athletes in Whistler at the 2010 Winter Olympics will be relocated to serve as affordable housing at six other B.C. communities after the Games. Surrey, Chilliwack, Saanich, Sechelt, Enderby and Chetwynd will gain a combined total of 156 permanent housing units as a result of the agreement announced by the province and VANOC. The 320 temporary modular housing units that will be used at the Olympic village in Whistler will be reconfigured to include a kitchen and bathroom in each unit.

WHERE UNITS WILL GO

Surrey – Approximately 48 units for homeless or at-risk at a city-owned site.

Chilliwack – 40 affordable housing units in a three-storey format on School Street for the homeless or at-risk.

Saanich – 36 units in three storeys for homeless or those at-risk at a Carey Road site.

Enderby – 16 single-storey units for low-income seniors at a former hospital site.

Sechelt – Up to eight units in two-storey format for homeless or at-risk at a city-owned site.

Chetwynd – 4-8 single-storey units for low-income seniors.