Client Cheryl

“Wow! This is it!”

That’s how Cheryl reacted when she first saw the suite that SSSBC found her at Dania Gardens, a brand-new rental complex in Burnaby operated by the non-profit Dania Home Society. The building is a mix of subsidized and market-rent units that are designed to provide seniors with comfort, accessibility, and a sense of belonging.

“I love it here; it is so totally me,” said Cheryl, who moved in in May. “There’s a place for everything and everything has a place. There’s a large kitchen and bedroom. The walk-in shower has a seat and there are grab bars. There are seating areas outside and an outdoor gym for seniors. Deer Lake Park is a short walk away and there’s also a museum nearby. This will be the last move I make.”

Prior to approaching SSSBC for help in finding an affordable place to rent, Cheryl was anxious. As she approached turning 65, she knew her income assistance and person with disability status would end. The rent on the one-bedroom apartment that she’d started sharing with her son kept going up and she knew she soon wouldn’t be able to afford to stay there. Cheryl had been on BC Housing’s waitlist for several years with no offers of assistance. She started noticing more seniors living on the streets and was starting to be scared that that would be her future.

“I needed a place quickly and a good friend referred me to SSSBC,” said Cheryl. “I met with one of the housing navigators who was so kind and responsive. She assured me that SSSBC is always looking for good tenants to refer. When she found an apartment at Dania Gardens, she felt it would be a perfect fit.”

Cheryl was preparing to move when she was hospitalized for kidney stones. She will always be grateful to Dania Homes for holding the apartment for her.

“I love SSSBC,” concluded Cheryl. “They bent over backwards to help me and were always kind, polite, and helpful. I was in tears when they told me about this place.”