The common goal of BC Housing and Nanaimo Youth Services Association in making this agreement is to provide residential accommodation for persons who, at the date of commencement of the tenancy, are homeless or at high risk of becoming homeless because of a physical, social or mental condition or disability. For this purpose, the Society will own and operate the Development, and the Commission will provide rent subsidies, under the terms of HOMES BC.

 

Role of the Society - The Society will operate, maintain and manage the apartment building in a proper, efficient and timely manner as would a prudent owner of similar property and in accordance with the Operating Standards of HOMES BC. NYSA operates as a non market, provincial government subsidized, 21 unit housing development under BC’s Landlord and Tenant Act. The rents are BC Housing subsidized on the basis of 30% housing costs as a portion of annual income. The units available to youth 17 to 19 years consist of 13 fully contained Bachelor suites and 7 two bedroom suites for teenage lone parents with one or more infants and/or toddlers.

 

Tenant Profile – A majority of youth living in the NYSA’s apartment building will currently be or have recently been under the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development.

 

Services are free and available to all youth within the age cohort of 17 to 19 years that NYSA’s contract with BC Housing and the Ministry of Children and Families serves. Services provided by paid staff and some volunteers.

 

Youth tenants are provided support to: complete High school, become gainfully employed and/or increase their competence and reach independence.

 

MCFD, NYSA and other community resources address the present and future needs of these youth as emerging young adult citizens from an Integrated Case Management (ICM) approach. Action is predicated upon existing CIC Standards and Service Planning expectations relative to a differential response to youth in need of assistance. ICM promotes complementary and joined services that identify and build on existing strengths and resiliency, rather than services that address only risks and deficits.