Help us house Ukrainians at Hetherington House

Organized by the Ukrainian Cultural Centre

 

The Kiwanis Village Society has offered us the recently vacated two-story Heatherington Building on Cook Street near Cedar Hill Road to home Ukrainian displaced people for one year! They've even waived the first month's rent. All we need to cover is insurance, hydro, and furnishings. If you would like to help house 15 families (up to 26 people), please consider donating! All donations, big or small, help us towards achieving this goal!

Media Coverage:
Times Colonist: https://www.timescolonist.com/local-news/kiwanis-village-society-offers-seniors-housing-to-ukrainian-refugees-5197049
Vic News: https://www.vicnews.com/community/victorias-kiwanis-village-offers-spaces-to-ukrainian-refugees/

The facility has 15 units - 13 bachelorette units (includes a bathroom and a kitchenette with a small fridge and space for a microwave), one 1-bedroom unit, and one 2-bedroom unit. There is a big shared kitchen, dining room, and hall as well as shared laundry and one additional shared bathroom for visitors. More photos of the facility can be found below!

 

The plan is to use this building to house displaced Ukrainians temporarily until we can match them with more permanent housing options. We have been flooded with requests for housing and are matching arriving Ukrainians with housing as quickly as we are able, but it is not always possible to do so before they arrive. Having this facility would allow us to provide a safe place for Ukrainians to stay upon arrival where they would be surrounded by other Ukrainians, ideally making the transition to Canada a little less jarring.

 

The Kiwanis Village Society is not seeking to make any profits out of this cooperation, but they need to cover their expenses. They have determined that the expenses for the building are $4,375/month or $52,500/annum. Not included in that figure is BC Hydro, Fortis Gas, Water, Sewer, and liability insurance. They are prepared to waive the first month’s rent. Additional anticipated costs include furnishing the units and hiring a building attendant to assist guests and ensure the building is kept clean and safe.

 

While at the outset this is a costly endeavor, we are hopeful that with the community's support, we can make this a reality! We are also open to corporate and private sponsorships for this project.

 

Photos of the facility are below: