The Fortune Motel in Kamloops in currently undergoing renovations.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

A North Shore motel that was supposed to help bolster the supply of supportive housing in Kamloops is far behind schedule.

B.C. Housing bought the Fortune Motel at 654 Fortune Drive in June for $3.6 million with the provincial Supportive Housing Fund. The short term plan was to renovate it to provide temporary homes with supports.

Tenants were to be moving in upon the completion of the renovations this Fall but now B.C. Housing says it’s delayed until at least the new year for reasons it didn’t explain.

“We are working with the City of Kamloops to move the Fortune Motel project forward as quickly as possible,” Laura Mathews, B.C. Housing spokesperson said in an emailed statement to iNFOnews.ca. “Minor renovations to the building are already underway, and we are working with the City on project approvals in order to continue construction.”

READ MORE: B.C. Housing buys Fortune Motel in Kamloops

Mathews said the organization hopes to have more information to share regarding a timeline for the project early in the New Year. She said the plans for the site include renovating the building to provide up to 40 supportive homes for people experiencing, or at risk of experiencing homelessness in the community.

B.C. Housing is currently funding 190 shelter beds that are either open or will be opening in the coming months.

READ MORE: Some Kamloops residents suspicious of provincial and municipal plans for Fortune Motel

“In addition, we have worked with partners to open 160 supportive homes in the community since 2017, with an additional 79 homes in progress,” she said.

The purchase of the motel was a sore topic for some residents, who said they were fed up with drug and criminal activity on the North Shore and did not want more social housing in the area, especially so close to an elementary school. Some said there was a lack of community consultation by the City and B.C. Housing regarding the purchase and designated use of the motel.

Resident Elizabeth Minogue who lives directly beside the motel said she has seen very few signs of construction on the site so far.

“A small bit of activity started a month ago,” she said. “The lights were on and the door was open to the room beside the main office one night so I could see in. It looked to me like maybe someone was staying there. I have seen security guards around there but very irregularly.”

Minogue said thick metal fencing has been built around the perimeter of the building. She and some others are wondering when tenants will be moving in.

The Fortune Motel in Kamloops.

(SHANNON AINSLIE / iNFOnews.ca)

“I have spoken to a couple of different security guards at different times and reached out to some local politicians,” Minogue said. “If they have information they aren’t sharing it. I feel the neighbourhood has not been fairly informed throughout this project.”

Residents are encouraged to submit their questions and concerns on the B.C. Housing website.

On its website, B.C. Housing said it is committed to an ongoing community dialogue and invites the community to learn more about the project and address questions that neighbours may have about supportive housing being operated at the site.

Long-term, B.C. Housing will submit a rezoning application and larger renovations will allow the site to provide permanent supportive housing to people in the community experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Once a timeline is established for the rezoning, B.C. Housing "will be reaching back out to engage with the community as part of this process."

READ MORE: Kamloops Tim Hortons closes its doors after street-related incident

To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above. 

News from © iNFOnews, 2021