The Annabel Block was purchased in March 2002 by Nelson District Community Resources Society ( now Nelson CARES) . At that time affordable housing in Nelson was at a critically low level due to conversions in the downtown core and the rise in rents. The aim was to preserve affordable housing for people on low or limited housing. There were financial contributions from various funders which allowed for the purchase and massive renovations which took place in 2003.Part of the funding was to create space for a emergency shelter, and Stepping Stones opened its doors on Dec 10 2004. It was around this time that the name of the building changed from the Annabel block to Ward Street Place.
Role of NCOH
TAP Program
In addition to typical rental units there are two housing programs located in Ward Street Place. The Transitional Accommodation (TAP) which has an outreach worker from Stepping Stones, is designed to facilitate the empowerment of clients by providing support, resources, and information tailored to their specific needs and goals. The program promotes wellness, physical/mental health, safety, education, and/or behaviour management for clients. A major component of TAP is helping clients' secure safe and affordable housing and/or a source of income. The maximum stay is 12 months.
The SHIP Program
The other program is called the Supported Housing Independence Program( SHIP) and is a partnership between Nelson CARES and KBMHAS. Nelson CARES Society has allocated four units within Ward Street Place for clients to live in for up to two years and to receive intensive supervision and support programming delivered by KBMHAS Outreach Support worker(s). The clientele consists of individuals who have experienced difficulties in finding and maintaining adequate housing in Nelson, due to mental health issues, addiction issues and the high rental rate in Nelson. More often then not, the placements are individuals who have repeatedly accessed the Stepping Stones services.
Social Enterprise Business
WSP is a social enterprise which receives no funding from the government for building operation costs and relies one hundred percent on commercial and residential rental income. In addition to Stepping Stones there are 34 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units, three one bedroom apartments on Victoria St and five thriving commercial tenants, including Still Eagle, Hairlines, Fishermen's Market, and the Earth Matters/Eco Store. The ECO Store is part of Earth Matters and is an innovative Retail Training site for people experiencing barriers to employment as well as an exciting new hub for environmentally sustainable lifestyle products, information, and service arm of Nelson CARES.
Photo by Robert Neufeld
Nelson CARES Society
Nelson CARES Society may be Nelson's most diverse non profit organization. We've been a long term catalyst (since 1974) for initiating community services and resources that respond to emerging needs. Not only has our origins as Nelson District Community Resources Society created crucial services, but hundreds of jobs for the Nelson area and generated millions of dollars for the local economy as well. The finest products of course are the results of our project and program work for the Community — some very visible and some simply ongoing and quietly invisible.
Annabel Block
The Annabel Block was constructed over the Ward Street Creek bed, in early 1912 by J.E. Annabel who was a pioneer, a real estate and insurance agent, and the mayor of Nelson. The modern mercantile and apartment block construction started in March ? DETAIL NEEDED 1910 and part of it lies where the Miner building on Victoria St, which had been erected 20 years earlier by the Madden Bros, used to be. Because of the recession before the first World War, the building was converted to living quarters and businesses, and to this day it has not changed. It cost $ 50,000 and was designed by the architect Alex Carrie.
Image Source When The Walls Talk Blog
The Architect Alex Carrie came to Nelson in the mid 1890's from Winnipeg where he had constructed some of the leading offices. He was in Nelson before the big building were erected. He had offices in the Griffin building and on Baker street and had blue prints for hundreds of plans that he has drawn and seen executed in Nelson and the Kootenay District. These include plans for homes, churches, fire halls, public buildings, warehouses, mercantile blocks , and stables. Mr. Carrie was the first architect in Canada, possibly in the United States to introduce a system of fire escape stairs built inside fire proof walls.
The Annabels
John Edward Annabel was born in Winchester Dundas, Ontario in 1860. In 1883 he travelled to Moose Jaw Saskatchewan to work in CPR construction, prior to the Second Riel Rebellion. After two years he moved back to Ontario to marry Miss Mary Elizabeth Christie the daughter of Reverend Christie.
By 1891 he was back in Moose Jaw where he worked 5 years as a city clerk for the young and developing city of Moose Jaw.
However he, like many young men of that era, was called west and in 1897 landed in Nelson BC. He arrived in the year that the young mining town was incorporated. J E started an insurance and a real estate business which he was identified with for the rest of his life. George A. Hunter and J E Annabel formed the Hunter and Annabel company which they were partners in for many years.