Construction well under way for new tiny homes for homeless Kelowna residents
Building has started on Kelowna’s second batch of tiny homes for homeless residents.
Last week, Mayor Tom Dyas and Minister of Housing Ravi Kahlon unveiled 60 new tiny homes on Crowley Avenue opposite Kelowna’s homeless encampment on the Rail Trail.
Now, building is in full swing to complete the next sixty.
READ MORE: Kelowna’s new tiny homes for homeless people unveiled
These new homes will be located on 2740 Highway 97 North, in between McCurdy and Leathead Road.
Unlike the individual units on Crowley Avenue, this is comprised of a long temporary structure with multiple units inside.
A narrow corridor separates the two accommodations which will act as a walkway for the residents.
The site also includes an office space and bathrooms in separate units.
Last week, Kahlon said the city and province believe encampments are not safe for the individuals living in them or for the community at large.
The hope with the new temporary tiny house units is to free up space in the city's shelters, which are currently operating at full capacity.
Resident on the rail trail would then be able to take shelter space, if they choose to.
READ MORE: 'Just normal people like everybody else': The reality of homelessness in Kelowna's tent city
"We recognize the immediate need to bring unhoused people in Kelowna indoors and provide them the care they need," Kahlon said in a press release about the Crowley Avenue project. "That is why the rapid opening of these units is significant as it means more people now have access to a safe and warm place to stay. Through this housing, people experiencing homelessness can be supported as they stabilize and move forward with their lives."
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