CentreVenture purchased the Bell Hotel in September of 2007. When it was constructed in 1906, it was considered one of Winnipeg’s finer small hotels. However, it had deteriorated substantially over the years. The building was vacant at the time of the purchase.

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 project has converted a vacant single room occupancy hotel into supportive housing and developed a new partnership between property management and support service providers.

The mandate of the building is to address is the issue of homelessness in Winnipeg, and work with those individuals to help them achieve stable housing and become integrated into the community.

The project will include space for service programming and provide access to a range of health and social services available on site and in the surrounding community to assist tenants to stabilize their lives, maximize their independence and maintain stable tenancies.

The Bell will provide long-term housing for tenants. Tenants will sign a lease with all related rights and responsibilities. The nature of the project suggests that some tenants will remain for the long term, while others will move on to housing that is more appropriate and better meets their needs at some point in the future.

A “Housing First” approach will be used to manage the project. Housing First offers access to permanent housing for individuals who are homeless and may have mental health issues. This strategy is considered a ‘best practice’ and is used successfully in other cities throughout North America. Research has demonstrated that homeless people with mental health and/or addiction issues are more likely to show improvement if they have access to safe, secure housing.

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.

CentreVenture secured capital funding from the Government of Canada, Province of Manitoba and the City of Winnipeg. CentreVenture contributed the building and will continue to own the property. The total redevelopment budget (both hard and soft costs but not including the property) is approximately $5.5 million.

The project architect is BIOS Architecture. Project management was provided by Red Lake Construction Co Ltd.