B.C. Housing buys another Kamloops motel
B.C. Housing bought the Lamplighter Motel in Kamloops, adding to its stock of housing in the city.
B.C. Housing is investing $4.8 million in the project, which includes the purchase of the property itself and plans for renovations, according to a news release from the province.
It's been used as a temporary supportive housing facility for people that are homeless since October 2021, but the new purchase will make the project permanent.
"With this purchase, people will get to stay in the homes they’ve been accustomed to over the past couple of years, ensuring they have a permanent, supportive home to live in close to friends and family," new housing minister Ravi Kahlon said in the news release.
The Valleyview area motel has 31 units. Residents who were already living there will continue to stay. ASK Wellness Society manages the property.
“A tapestry of supportive housing in Kamloops will ensure that people have the right supports and environment to improve their lives,” ASK Wellness CEO Bob Hughes said in the release. “While the Lamplighter program has historically supported individuals during environmental crisis situations, the operating model for this project has developed and grown in order to complement the existing housing models in the community."
The Lamplighter includes 24/7 staffing, meal programs, health and wellness services and life-skills training, according to the news release.
ASK Wellness is also partnering with the Open Door Group, which specializes in vocational training, to help tenants get into the workforce.
"As a transitional supportive housing program, the vision for Lamplighter is to provide culturally appropriate services to those who are prepared to embrace prioritizing their health, employment and educational advancement," Hughes said.
B.C. Housing has funded more than 750 homes in Kamloops since 2017, according to the release. It previously purchased the Fortune Motel on the North Shore, which recently opened as a supportive housing facility earlier this year.
The news release did not specify how much B.C. Housing paid for the property itself, but the Crown corporation said it did have an independent appraisal in August, which "supports the purchase price."
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