Our Buildings
The Society currently operates three apartment buildings in Vancouver’s Downtown South neighbourhood that together provide homes for 334 tenants.
Old Jubilee House
Old Jubilee House, opened in 1986, was the Society’s first building. It suffered from structural problems common to buildings constructed in the lead-up to Expo 86. A replacement building, New Jubilee House, was built directly across the street. It houses the 87 low-income tenants of old Jubilee House (including 11 handicapped tenants) plus an additional 75 low-end-of-market tenants. The income stream from the low-end-of-market tenants helps to subsidize the rents of low-income tenants. This is essential because the original CMHC subsidy has decreased each year and will end completely in 2021. New Jubilee House has welcoming common spaces on the main floor, including a library, kitchen, multi-purpose/dining area, and low-cost food store. A garden is located on the rooftop.
New Jubilee House
1099 Richards Street (at Helmcken)
Opened 2016
162 bachelor and one-bedroom suites, including 11 wheelchair accessible suites
Constructed by Brenhill Developments
Designed by GBL Architects
“I am from Ethiopia and a poet. This is a safe, quiet place for me.” Seyoum, tenant since 2005
“I am Seyoum Nigussie. I was born in Ethiopia, a country I fled 35 years ago to find freedom. I made Canada my sweet home since 1990. My health and my life started to feel special since I became a tenant at Jubilee House run by The 127 Society for Housing – the Society is noble to help people who arrive from around the world. I am now looking forward to publishing poetry and a screenplay! The New Jubilee House is a new lease on life”.
Brookland Court
540 Helmcken Street (at Seymour)
Grade B heritage building constructed in 1911
retrofitted in 1989
70 bachelor suites; eight one-bedroom suites
Large bay windows in the suites in Brookland Court still retain some of the airy spaciousness of the original 1911 apartment building. The basement has been retrofitted with a large common television room and laundry.
“I moved into the Wellspring after several months living in addiction recovery residences. Living here gave me a home.” Marc, tenant since 2009
The Wellspring
415 Nelson Street (at Homer)
Opened 1997
90 one-bedroom suites
The Wellspring was designed to draw tenants into daily interaction at common gathering places on the lower floors, including a coffee room with newspapers and a television, a library, a wood workshop, and a large multipurpose room with a kitchen.
“This place is like heaven compared to where I lived before. The big windows provide lots of light for painting.” Leef, tenant since 2007