In Vancouver, 9% of youth experience homelessness every year. The Rights of Passage program, run by Covenant House Vancouver, provides vulnerable young adults with safe, affordable housing and support as they transition to independent living. Our National Special Services Group (SSG) team partnered with Covenant House Vancouver to renovate the 26,500-sq.-ft., four-storey building so the organization could continue serving the community.
The project involved converting the facility from a youth shelter into transitional housing. Our SSG team converted former staff office spaces into residential units and renovated existing bachelor units into transitional living units, increasing capacity from 25 to 44.
Construction included:
- Repurposing the main floor into a teaching kitchen for independent life skills, a gym, classroom, and lounge
- Replacing the shared laundry rooms and kitchens on the second floor
- Reconfiguring common rooms on the second, third, and fourth floor with communal kitchens and lounge areas
- Installing air conditioning complete with energy recovery ventilators (ERV)
- Installing new storm and sanitary sewer connections
The exterior of the building also received a refresh with pressure washing, painting of the window frames, balcony guardrails and street canopy, updated illuminated signage, repointed brick, and refurbished heritage door and window trim.
Rights of Passage will continue to support vulnerable youth with fully furnished private apartments, 24-hour support, daily meals made by the residents, individualized assistance from social workers, life skills education, and help gaining and maintaining employment, pursuing education, and navigating housing transitions.
