The sheer will of everyone involved to get it done despite so many obstacles was amazing. We had to deal with the original non-profit we wanted to work with dissolving . We lost the lease with the church early and had to scramble to house everyone for a short period while construction was underway. But in the end, we got it done.
Matthew Camirand- Supportive Housing Advisor
Protecting Shelter Beds in Kelowna
This past spring, new space was urgently needed for an existing shelter in west Kelowna that was soon to close due to the sale and redevelopment of the church where it was located. That meant 38 beds that would longer be available. BCH had been working with the City of Kelowna for a few years to find an alternative. At the eleventh hour, the City suggested a piece of land that might work but it was isolated and required a creative and immediate solution to ensure those beds weren’t lost. A three year temporary agreement was quickly struck. Operations proposed a modular solution – unusual as modulars are generally used for housing, but due to the pandemic social distancing requirements it was decided this was the right option for the shelter. There was initial skepticismbecause the location is outside of downtown, but the provider has been really positive about how it is running. The design has improved greatly upon the conditions of the old shelter and has given locals a different perspective on what a shelter can be.
Operation’s 2021 – a year in review
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