Dick Bell-Irving House: a legacy of supporting personal growth and development
On March 31, 2023, the Dick Bell-Irving Community Residential Facility (more commonly known as a halfway house) closed its doors. The BC Borstal Association was proud to have owned and operated the facility in the Cambie Street neighbourhood since the 1960s.
Over the 55 years that Dick Bell-Irving House served as a halfway house, we provided over 250,000 safe nights of sleep for some of the hardest to house individuals in our province. Staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, we were able to provide a safe space for our clients to live, grow, and change while supporting their personal journeys of healing and reintegration.
None of this work would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of our staff, who brought passion to their work of providing safety, security and support for our clients and communities.
The building that housed the Dick Bell-Irving facility is turning 100 years old, and beyond its safe and useful life. We look forward to seeing how the property will continue to serve communities in need on Vancouver’s west side.