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Downtown Social Well-Being

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The City of Prince George is partnering with BC Housing and Northern Health to provide affordable housing with integrated services to the city's most at-risk residents. The project will be located at 805/855 First Avenue.

Community Safety Hub Opens

The City of Prince George and its partners launched the Community Safety Hub in the downtown area on April 6 to help improve the health and safety of unsheltered homeless. The Hub will also support service coordination between local and provincial government agencies and community organizations responding to social issues like homelessness, substance abuse, and mental illness.

For more information:

Read the April 13, 2021 media release

First Avenue Affordable Housing and Healthcare Partnership

BC Housing is collaborating with the City of Prince George and Northern Health on one of the most significant and innovative housing projects in Northern B.C. Together, the partners are adding affordable housing integrated with healthcare services to serve Prince George's most vulnerable populations and improve the community, particularly the city’s downtown area.

The initiative - separated into two projects - will provide up to 150 new affordable homes at 808/855 First Avenue (NR Motor's previous location) with support and services. The homes will be built using modular construction.

First Project

Fifty urgently needed, purpose-built support homes for people experiencing or at-risk of homelessness.
Housing will include 24/7 support services such as meal programs, life and employment skills training, and health and wellness support.
Experienced non-profit operator to be chosen at a later date to manage the building and day-to-day operations.
Construction anticipated to start spring 2021 and open in early 2022.

Second Project

Two buildings that will provide up to 100 affordable, energy-efficient homes with support and services to help people recover and stay healthy.
The concept includes ground-floor healthcare space in each building accessible to residents and the public managed by Northern Health (in partnership with other health service agencies).
Northern Health and partners will oversee the healthcare spaces and provide primary care, harm reduction, and specialized mental health and substance-use services.

Quick Facts

The Province, through the Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund, will fund the capital and operating costs of the project. The exact amounts will be determined once the proposal has progressed through municipal approvals.
The City of Prince George has provided the land for the project.
Including these 50 new supportive homes, the Province is working in partnership to deliver more than 280 new affordable homes in Prince George.

For more information:

Partnership Roles

Leads the design and construction of supportive and affordable homes.
Oversees operation of housing units once construction complete.

Oversees delivery of primary and community-care health services as well as mental health and harm reduction services within BC Housing service spaces.
Services may be delivered by Northern Health directly or by other organizations.

Provides land for development.
Leads the rezoning process.

Homeless Service Hubs

In 2019, the City helped launched two new pilot projects in the downtown area aimed at providing washroom and storage access for vulnerable and homeless people.

The site at 181 Quebec street offers storage, washroom, and outreach services.
The second site at 144 George Street provides access to storage, washroom, shower, laundry, and outreach services.

The City has partnered with BC Housing, the Prince George Native Friendship Centre, and the Association Advocating for Women and the Community (AWAC) to provide these critical services.

Beds inside the 144 George Street hub.

181 Quebec Street hub.

Storage units inside the Quebec Street hub.

Clean and Safe for All

The City of Prince George is working to create a clean and safe downtown environment to encourage new developments, help businesses thrive, and promote engaging events.

But we can't address issues like substance abuse, homelessness, drug-related property crimes, and mental health problems on our own.

This is why we're working with partner agencies such as Northern Health and other levels of government to improve conditions in the downtown.

What We're Doing

Increasing a dedicated RCMP presence in the downtown area.
Sending Bylaw Compliance Officers on daily patrols to help clean up illegal camps, discarded belongings, syringes, and other paraphernalia.
Removing derelict buildings.
Creating the Select Committee on a Safe, Clean, and Inclusive Community.

Visit the Select Committee page

Funding graffiti removal services on private property from May to October.
Suspending or cancelling business licenses that fail to comply with terms and conditions.
Increasing security presence at Civic facilities.

What Our Partners Are Doing

Creating a mental health crisis response team staffed by Northern Health and RCMP (Car 60).
Increasing the number and presence of outreach workers to connect the homeless with housing and services.
Offering Sharps Container service for businesses.

Working in Partnership

Introducing new initiatives such as homeless service hubs that provide temporary storage and other services that contribute to cleanliness and safety.
Developing housing with on-site health services such as specialized mental health and substance use services.
Putting together a Downtown Clean Team to pick up litter six days a week.