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Project opens in city

Housing facility to be run by local aid society

A Royal City resident's passion for housing issues has been honoured by a new transitional housing development.

A grand opening celebration was held this week at Rhoda Kaellis Residence, a four-storey building on the site of the former Garfield Hotel at 1105 Royal Ave.

The facility, which will be run by the Lookout Emergency Aid Society, will provide 24 units of supportive housing for men and women with a

follow us on history of homelessness, mental health issues and substance abuse.

The residence is located at 1105 Royal Ave. in New Westminster.

"Lookout has been providing solutions to homelessness for 40 years and we know what it takes to successfully transition people to more stable, healthier lifestyles and homes," said Karen O'Shannacery, the society's executive director. "I would like to thank both the governments of Canada and the province for investing in Rhoda Kaellis Residence and also the City of New Westminster for supporting the project and helping us to change people's lives."

According to a B.C. Housing press release, the federal government contributed $1.65 million toward the capital cost of the project and an additional $700,000 through federal homelessness funding. The province provided financing of more than $7 million and is providing annual operating funding of $732,943.

The building, which is owned and managed by the Lookout Emergency Aid Society, includes 11 apartments for short-term transitional housing and 13 semi-permanent independent apartments for people with a history of homelessness.

Kaellis, who lived in New Westminster for 16 years, was a tireless advocate for affordable housing and housing for all until her death in 2006.

tmcmanus@royalcityrecord.com