Don Plant 2008-03-20 Kelowna Courier
Kelowna‘s poor were promised more shelter on Wednesday. The B.C. government and the city have joined forces to build three apartment blocks for people who are unable or can barely afford to pay rent in today‘s market. Kelowna taxpayers will provide $2 million worth of vacant land near downtown and parking lots in Rutland and South Pandosy. The province has promised to spend $30 million on designing and building 150 suites in all, and $1.6 million to operate them each year. Kelowna has a vacancy rate of less than one per cent and the second-highest median-home price in Canada, Mayor Sharon Shepherd said at the announcement. “Very little rental housing is being built. That means people in the lower-income brackets are finding it difficult to live here,” she said. “This will go a long way to address a problem that is simply unacceptable in our city.”
The controversy following an earlier government initiative to build a supportive-housing block on St. Paul Street for the addicted and mentally ill wasn‘t far from Housing Minister Rich Coleman‘s mind. He took pre-emptive aim at detractors who may complain the new apartments are no good for Kelowna. “You need to go support your local government so they can get this housing,” he said. “You can all do that by being part of the solution and not make excuses why it can‘t happen in Kelowna. “It should happen in Kelowna because this city has always had one of the biggest hearts in British Columbia.” The city-owned properties at 330 Boyce Cres. and 185-195 Rutland Rd. North will feature housing for low-income singles who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Each building will have 30 to 50 suites, overnight security and space for counseling and other support services. The province is now looking for non-profit groups to manage the two buildings.
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