Is B.C Housing Looking for Alternative to Backpacker?

By Ben Meisner

The Motel may be abandoned, but not the plans for its future

At first blush, the news release from B.C. Housing looks like the plans for the Backpacker Motel are being ditched.

The release is entitled, "Search Expanded for New Housing Site" and reads, in part;

"In response to community concerns expressed about the originally proposed site at 1656 Queensway, B.C. Housing and Northern Health are broadening their search for a suitable location."

But you have to peel another layer off the onion for the full story.

Northern Regional Manager for B.C. Housing, Ann Howard, says the Backpacker plans are still a go, what is different is that those who wish to apply for the job as service provider, are invited to present alternative sites. "Maybe there are sites that we haven't considered that would be suitable, here's an opportunity to bring them forward and we can look at them" says Howard.

A meeting has been set for June 30th in the Keith Gordon Room of the Prince George Public Library. That 1:00 session is mandatory for any non profit society that wishes to be the service provider for the site. The deadline for proposals is September 29th, and B.C. Housing has said an application for re-zoning the Backpacker site will be made after the service provider has been chosen.

The Connaught/Millar Addition neighbourhood stands opposed to the shelter saying it entrenches their neighbourhood as the dumping ground for drugs, prostitution and crime.

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