Residents may be impacted as Atira housing contracts set to expire

B.C. Housing says it will not renew Atira Women’s Resource Society’s operating agreements at provincially owned supportive housing until a review into its operations is complete, raising concerns about whether already stretched non-profits have the capacity to fill the void.

Allan Seckel, B.C. Housing board chair, said there are between 10 and 15 buildings where a new provider is being sought because Atira’s contract as housing provider has expired or is about to expire. Seckel would not give a list of those buildings.

“Some of the contracts are fully expired and we’ll be undergoing an open process to select new providers,” Seckel said.

Seckel and Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon have promised that residents living in those buildings will still have access to support services — such as outreach and group support teams — as the transition to a new agency takes place.

Atira will not be considered for new funding or to manage new buildings until the review is complete, B.C. Housing said.