WEST KELOWNA - To help people experiencing homelessness in the community, the Province is extending the Westbank United Church shelter until more supportive homes open in the area.

In partnership with the City of West Kelowna and the West Kelowna Shelter Society, the Province will continue to fund up to 38 beds at 3672 Brown Rd. as interim support beds with 24/7 supports. The current shelter was expected to close at the end of April 2019.

Shelter guests will have their own designated bed, receive individualized case planning and will be connected to health supports and other services as needed.

These interim beds are in addition to three shelters funded by the Province in the Kelowna area running at or near capacity:

• Kelowna's Gospel Mission, 60 beds;
• NOW Canada's shelter for women and children, 20 beds; and
• Cornerstone co-ed shelter, 80 beds.

Two supportive housing projects underway in the Kelowna area are:

• a 52-unit supportive housing project at 2025 Agassiz Rd., expected to be completed by summer 2019; and
• up to 50 units of supportive housing at 280 McIntosh Rd., expected to be completed by fall 2019.

Quick Facts:

• According to the 2018 Point in Time Homeless Count, 72 people were identified as experiencing homelessness in the City of West Kelowna.
• Through the Building BC: Rapid Response to Homelessness program, the Province is investing $291 million to build 2,000 homes throughout B.C. and providing annual operating funding to provide 24/7 staffing and support services. To date, 1,300 people have been housed.
• The Province is also investing $1.2 billion over 10 years in the Building BC: Supportive Housing Fund, which will create 2,500 additional supportive housing units, along with another 200 modular housing units in Budget 2019.

Contacts:

Media Relations
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
778 698-9176

Rajvir Rao
BC Housing
604 456-8917