To the editor:
After reading the article in The Terrace Standard dated Oct. 10, 2024, "Province beefs up housing plans in Terrace", I would like to suggest a few ideas to incorporate in planning the studio apartment units which the article mentions.
My idea for the complex would be that it be run similar to a dorm or an assisted living facility with scheduled meal times in a cafeteria. I would like to see the residents having jobs to enable their stay, such as sou chefs to help prepare meals; persons to collect and wash dishes; be assigned to a laundry team on rotating days to collect bed sheets & towels once a week (all the same colour so no sorting required) and washed in a central laundry room.
This room would also be available to residents wanting to do their own laundry.
On rotating days, once a week a residents' housekeeping team would wash unit floors, bathrooms, etc. Residents would need to log hours worked perhaps starting at shifts of 2-3 hours/day? These jobs would require supervision, scheduling and many logistics.
The incentive for the residents would be that the money earned would pay a portion of their food & lodging. Working would also provide them with job experience (good on a resume with references), as well as a feeling of self worth and a sense of accomplishment.
Some percentage of their wages could be retained in a bank account in their name and released to them after one year or a pre-determined date.
All of these ideas would need fine tuning, structure and leadership. But something needs to be done in order for these folks to 'want' to have a better life.
Giselle Birch,
Terrace, B.C.
