It's been more than two years since Vernon's former halfway house was closed, but the process of opening a new one is underway. Corrections Canada says two proposals have been received for a new 14-bed facility to house paroled offenders. An announcement on the winning bid will be made May 14-th but at this point, the names are being withheld. The John Howard Society, which operated the previous facility, says its not one of the bidders.Lisa Bayne from Corrections Canada is not aware if specific sites are being proposed. "I don't know. I haven't had a chance to look at them yet. Perhaps one of the bidders may want the facility in a certain location, and the other may want it in a different location. It will depend on that. It will also depend on the recommendations of the community advisory board." Bayne says there will be a chance for public input before construction starts, and a community panel will choose which offenders can live at the facility. "The community advisory board has asked that certain limits be placed on things like dangerous sex offenders or limiting the amount of statutory release cases that in residence." Vernon's former halfway house closed in 2004 after the killing of Bill Abramenko, allegedly by a former resident of Howard House who walked away from the facility while on parole for murder.
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