Currently under construction, the new Welcome House in Vancouver is scheduled to be complete by end of April with a grand opening set for June 18, 2016. The 58,000 square foot facility is dedicated to supporting immigrants and refugees in Vancouver.

The new Welcome House will be the first facility of its kind in the world bringing together under one roof several organizations, public institutions, government services and programs to address the immediate needs of refugees and immigrants arriving in B.C.

Located at 2610 Victoria Drive, the building will feature 16 housing units to create multiple bedrooms capable of accommodating various configurations from singles to families and up to 138 beds. The development, consisting of a four storey wing and a six storey wing, will be operated by ISSofBC, which assists 30,000 immigrants and refugees annually. The project is targeting LEED Gold and the general contractor is Mierau Contractors.

Designed by Henrqiuez Partners Architects, the facility will include short-term and long-term housing, medical services and English language training. There will also be trauma care, child care, a youth centre, food security services, a banking kiosk, a legal clinic, employment assistance resources, multilingual support services, a computer lab, food bank, second hand clothing room, and a rooftop garden.