xwƛ̓əpicən is part of the Arbutus Centre, an 8-storey building with 125 units, in Vancouver. This housing project was awarded by the City of Vancouver to YWCA Metro Vancouver and is operated through an innovative partnership between the Association of Neighbourhood Houses of BC (ANHBC), Tikva Housing Society (Tikva) and the YWCA to serve the needs of a diverse range of individuals and households in Vancouver.
Tikva operates a total of 37 units, including:
- 27 studio and one-bedroom units (9 adaptable and 5 fully accessible) primarily for Jewish low to moderate-income singles and couples
- 10 studio units for individuals transitioning from supportive housing to independence (S.T.E.P. program)
The Diamond Foundation has provided a generous pledge to cover subsidies for Tikva’s units for the first 5 years.
*All units are occupied.
We are grateful to the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Indian Band, who gifted the name xʷƛ̓əpicən to the project. xʷƛ̓əpicən means ‘below the ridge’ or ‘a hollow.’ It refers to the housing site’s low-lying location below the Arbutus Ridge, and because also as a hollow it is a safe and cozy place where people would gather.
| City: | Vancouver |
| Bedrooms: | Studio,1 |
| Bathrooms: | 1 |