New affordable senior housing named after Kamloops HIV/AIDS advocate | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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Kamloops News

New affordable senior housing named after Kamloops HIV/AIDS advocate

Image Credit: ADOBE STOCK

A local advocate is being honoured with the naming of a new affordable housing development in Kamloops.

The building has been named Cookie's Place after local HIV/AIDS advocate and founder of ASK Wellness Society, Cookie Reimer.

"There isn’t a specific reason why this project was named after her, but it is a long overdue way of honouring her," Michael McDonald with ASK Wellness said. "She continues to be one of our community's biggest voices and advocates for people living with HIV/AIDS."

The Province is partnering with the City of Kamloops and ASK Wellness Society to build the new four-storey building at 1260 Hillside Ct, set to be complete in the fall of 2021.

The housing will be for seniors on a low to moderate income aged 55 and up. Monthly rents for the 37 one-bedroom units are projected to range from $375 to $825.

"Our philosophy of providing programming and housing that allows people to move from streets to homes to health to employment promotes the opportunity for people to regain their health, and to access employment and education opportunities," ASK Wellness CEO Bob Hughes said in a provincial release.  

"It's what Cookie Reimer, one of the founding organizers of ASK Wellness, always has believed in."

The provincial government is providing $3.9 million from the Building BC: Community Housing Fund, as well as annual operating funding for the project. ASK Wellness provided the land valued at $817,000. The City of Kamloops is providing $130,000 in municipal waivers.

"We are pleased to see more affordable housing on the horizon for seniors in our community," Kamloops mayor Ken Christian said in a release.

"Housing is a key area of focus for our council and we continue to work with our partners to improve diversity and access throughout the housing continuum."

There are currently 1000 provincially funded homes complete or underway in Kamloops, including 290 homes for low to moderate income earners, 155 homes for people experiencing homelessness, 44 homes for women and their children leaving violence and 533 student housing beds.


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