As many as 15 Syrian refugee families will be making their new home in apartments on Cottonwood Avenue in Coquitlam that have been renovated just in time for their arrival.
Concert Properties which owns the development at 550 Cottonwood Ave. is offering the suites at below market rent for a year to help the newcomers stabilize and get their lives back together, said Brian McCauley, president and chief operating officer of the company.
"It was just a moment in time when we had space available and we offered them," McCauley said.
The company is working with the Immigrant Services Society of BC to help the families get settled and offered the apartments as a housing solution in December after learning about the plight of refugees.
"We have always looked to be a good partner in the neighbourhoods we work in," McCauley added.
Last minute touch-ups are being done on the two and three bedroom suites, including paint, appliances and new carpets and McCauley said families get to choose where they want to live and will be moving in the coming days.
Although the 327-unit property near the new Burquitlam Evergree Line station will likely be re-developed one day, the rezoning process hasn't begun and the suites were empty because the previous tenants had left not because of evictions.
In fact, McCauley said, it will be awhile before the property is needed so the Syrian refugees could stay longer than a year if they needed to.
The rental fees are in line with B.C. income assistance rates and include utilities.
Chris Friesen, settlement director for ISS, said the offer from Concert Properties was helpful for getting refugees settled but much more housing is still needed for nearly 2,000 Syrian refugees expected to arrive in Metro Vancouver before March.
To find out more and to provide assistance, visit www.issbc.org.
