Housing For Women By Women

Women disproportionately face conditions and concerns that affect their ability to find safe, appropriate, and affordable housing including economic, political and social barriers. The predominance of domestic and gender-based violence that women face is a key critical issue that significantly impacts the precariousness of inadequate housing, creating a critical priority to provide safe, adequate and affordable housing for women. With COVID-19 and the related increase in gender-based violence and resulting increased risk of homelessness for many women, this project is even more essential and provides a pivotal opportunity to safely house women and their children.

This new affordable housing project of housing for women by women is focused on closing this glaring gap in the housing needs of women in our city by providing affordable and long-term housing for senior women, single mothers and their children, and workforce women.

In addition, our team brings a gender-based approach to all key areas of design and development, delivering this critical housing for women by an interdisciplinary team of experienced industry leading women.

By delivering this project with an experienced team of women professionals, we are furthering the mandate of the project through a gender-based look at what women need, but also are working to build capacity in the development industry for women leaders to deliver projects in all areas of design, development and construction.

Our approach to design and development of this project will:

Create affordable housing options for women with low incomes

Support women with low incomes to achieve financial independence and housing security

Incorporate participatory decision-making in key aspects of design and development process

Implement gender-based approach in all areas of project design and development

We are proud of the intentional and focused approach that we are taking with this project to deliver on the powerful mission of Soroptimist International of Vancouver to “improve the lives of women and girls”.

Location

546 WEST 13th ST (CAMBIE & 13th)

SI Vancouver intends to develop a single lot located at 546 West 13th Ave. The site area is 14,520 sq.ft. and currently includes an aging 2-storey rental building.

The existing neighbourhood consists of a mix of low, mid and high rise residential buildings, as well as medical offices part of the nearby VGH campus. To the east, Cambie Street provides a variety of restaurants and shops at ground level, some of which include mid to high rise residential buildings above. At 12th and Cambie, City Square shopping centre offers a grocery store, shops, and various services.

The Broadway City Hall Skytrain station is located only a few blocks north, providing a convenient transit hub that will soon include the Millenium Line extension. West Broadway is lined with restaurants, shops, services, and offices. While almost everything you need is located only a short walk away, the site is also surrounded by bike networks.

What the Building Will Offer

  • 135 New Homes: Studio | 1BR | 2BR | 3BR
  • Shared Garden / Outdoor Space
  • Meeting and Event Space
  • Parking
  • Bicycle Parking

Goals

  • Environmental sustainability
  • Community of support for all women
  • Housing for women consider design approach for women specifically
  • Safety, well-being, peace of mind
  • Education
  • Affordability
  • Enhance the neighbourhood
  • Encourage social connections
  • Equality
  • Accessibility
  • Diversity, mixed community, integration of all ages
  • Respect for the land