POCKET SUITES HOUSING FIRST A pilot project as an alternative to rooming houses in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Hastings County NATIONAL HOUSING DAY

Transcription

1 Hastings County NATIONAL HOUSING DAY HOUSING FIRST 2013 POCKET SUITES A pilot project as an alternative to rooming houses in Winnipeg, Manitoba Presented by Paul McNeil MMM Group November 21, 2013

2 Presentation Outline Background The Need / Context The Concept Physical Details Planning Issues Our Role / Partners Lessons Learned Next Steps Photo: 154 Kate Street Site

3 Introduction & Background Historical Context Photos: Chicago Historic Society

4 Introduction & Background Historical Context Detroit rooming House owner buttons Gordie Howe s collar, c Photo: Mclean s, May 2003

5 Introduction & Background Current Context Hotel McLaren on Main Street, Winnipeg

6 Introduction & Background Current Context Winnipeg Free Press, April 2002 CBC News Online, December 2006 Winnipeg Sun Online, July 2011

7 Introduction & Background Supply Pressures Tighter regulations & inspections Loses due to fire and demolition Stronger real estate market Winnipeg Free Press, July 2013

8 Housing Options in the Marketplace Housing Options in Winnipeg

9 The Need Winnipeg West Broadway West Alexander St. Matthews Spence Percentage of One-Person Households Low-income single persons in Winnipeg s inner-city Daniel MacIntyre Centennial 0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

10 The Context Winnipeg Winnipeg has many large older homes in central neighbourhoods Inner-city land values are generally low

11 Lot Inventory Derelict houses are abandoned The City acquires them through tax arrear sales The City demolishes the derelict houses Resulting inventory of vacant, narrow lots

12 City Homes: Winnipeg

13 Making Entry-Level Housing Affordable OPTIONS: 1. Provide housing subsidies 2. Enhance skills to increase earning potential and increase family income 3. Reduce the cost of construction modest footprint

14 The Concept GOAL To create small, affordable, self-contained apartment units for single persons as an alternative to rooming houses (SROs) To build on vacant infill lots in Winnipeg s older neighbourhoods

15 Our Partners SAM Management Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Winnipeg Housing & Homelessness Initiative City of Winnipeg Cohlmeyer Architects

16 The Planning Issues Land Acquisition Location Services & Amenities Neighbourhood Consultation Approvals Zoning & Variances Photo: Vacant POCKET Kate HOUSES Street Site September 2011

17 Site Layout Two storeys, each with 8 units Designed to fit on 30 -wide lots Average size 220 sq. ft. per unit No common space, separate entrances, private washrooms Included basic furnishings

18 Barrier-Free Floor Plan (50% of suites) Main Level Plan Barrier-Free Plan Drawings: Cohlmeyer Architects

19 Site Photos Front View Rear View

20 Interior Photos Before Occupancy

21 Interior Photos After Occupancy

22 Development Costs (2006 Construction) Total Project cost (4 buildings 32 suites) $1.75 M Cost per building $437.5 K Cost per suite $54,700 All-up cost including parking & landscaping: $225 / sq. ft. Photo: Cohlmeyer Architects

23 Financing Land (City of Winnipeg) $25,000 value per lot $1 sale price per lot Grant: $1.038 M Winnipeg Housing & Homelessness Initiative (WHHI) 59% of Total Project Cost Mortgage $712,000 41% of Total Project Cost

24 Rent Structure In % Rent-to-income assistance by WHHI Now 100% Rent-to-income In 2007, rent was $350/mo. Now $409/mo. Need $425 to break even Going to $440 in 2014

25 Tenancy Experience (spring 2013 statistics) 25% of units are Community Mental Health accounts Currently 26 male and 6 female tenants 7 original tenants (22%) An average of nearly 8 evictions per year

26 Lessons Learned Tenancy Issues Security an issue no supervision and no way to monitor access Universal access & mobility units not practical too small Need a tenant relations / support worker to do monthly visits and work closely with high-need tenants

27 Lessons Learned If we were to do it again? Cluster several Pocket Houses within a two-block radius and have one live-in caretaker To reduce costs, explore a simplified design and options for modular construction Seek 100% capital grant

28 In Summary Well-received by the community and general public Need is still clearly evident Capacity is available to build more Pocket Houses Photo: Christine Melnick former Minister of Housing on Opening POCKET Day, HOUSES July 2006 September 2011

29 Next Steps City of Regina Mayor s Housing Summit, May 2013 Exchange of Ideas Vancouver Atira Women's Resource Society (Janice Abbott) Apartment block rehabilitation Added shipping container housing to the side of the apartment block

30 Atira Women s Resource Society, Vancouver National Post, August 2013 National Post, August 2013

31 Next Steps Key transferable innovations: Weld two 8 x 40 shipping containers together, remove the adjoining walls and subdivide frontto-back to create two spaces 16 x 20 (320 sq. ft.) Knock out the ends and fully glaze Create a courtyard between the units

32 320 Square Feet of Interior Space National Post, August 2013

33 Where to From Here? Pocket Houses Next Generation

34 Where to From Here? Pocket Houses Next Generation

35 Where to From Here? Pocket Houses Next Generation Currently exploring modular construction and shipping container options.

36 Thank you Questions and discussion Photo: Cohlmeyer Architects