Winnipeg, Manitoba. Construction is complete on the newly renovated Bell Hotel.  Prior to renovation, the Bell Hotel originally provided approximately 75 rooms with shared bathrooms, and a beverage room on the main floor.  Today, the Bell has been redeveloped into 42 self-contained units of affordable, permanent housing for individuals who have experienced homelessness.  The redevelopment includes space for service programming and will provide access to a range of health and social services available on site.

“The newly renovated Bell Hotel demonstrates what we can accomplish in Winnipeg when we all come together to ensure positive, healthy opportunities to be self-sufficient are accessible and available to our city’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “I am very pleased with the dedication of CentreVenture and the partnership of the provincial and federal governments to support important projects like this that help us provide citizens with a hand up and bring us closer to our goal to revitalized Main Street.”

“The Province of Manitoba is proud to support the redevelopment of the Bell Hotel in our efforts to reduce homelessness and the risk of homelessness,” said Minister of Housing & Community Development Kerri Irvin-Ross.  “The housing first model that grounds this project is a proven approach that provides a practical foundation for people to build and rebuild their lives.”

Support services will be provided by a partnership consisting of the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (clinical services) and the Main Street Project (on-site support services).  Professional property management services will be provided by Winnipeg Housing Rehabilitation Corporation. Service providers will take possession of the property on Monday, July 4, 2011.  Tenanting will begin by mid-July and proceed gradually until the Bell is fully occupied by late summer, 2011.

“Situated in permanent housing, an individual can begin to regain the self-confidence and control over their lives which was lost when they became homeless, said Ross McGowan, President & CEO of CentreVenture.  “Once they are housed, they are linked to ongoing individualized home-based support services to transition to stability”.

CentreVenture secured capital funding from the Government of Canada and the Province of Manitoba.  The City of Winnipeg, through CentreVenture contributed the building and will continue to own the property. The project architect is BIOS Architecture and construction management was provided by Red Lake Construction Co Ltd.

CentreVenture Development Corporation was created in June 1999 as an arms-length agency of the City of Winnipeg.  CentreVenture’s mandate is to stimulate downtown revitalization by creating an environment for private sector businesses and government to work together and to promote the downtown to investors, businesses and residents. CentreVenture serves as an advocate and a leader for downtown in promoting development by identifying opportunities, creating partnerships, forming innovative improvement strategies, providing information and by serving as an accessible conduit to support initiatives.

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Contact:
Ross McGowan
President & CEO CentreVenture Development Corporation
mcgowan@centreventure.com
(204) 954-7733