FILE PHOTO - The My Place shelter, located at 2307 43rd St. in Vernon is pictured in this March 26, 2019, file photo. B.C. Housing wants to expand the shelter to include 52 more units.

(BEN BULMER / iNFOnews.ca)

The province is building new supportive housing in Vernon, including a new building on the site of the former Howard House shelter, if the projects get approval from the City of Vernon.

B.C. Housing has partnered with Turning Points Collaborative Society to build approximately 100 units of supportive housing at two locations in Vernon, according to a B.C. government media release.

"Access to safe and secure housing gives people the stability and dignity they deserve, while wraparound supports help them to move forward, make healthy choices and build a better life," Municipal Affairs and Housing Selina Robinson said in the release.

The plan is to demolish the derelict and vacant Howard House shelter at 2307 43 St. to make way for around 50 units. The site is connected to the existing Our Place supportive housing project which opened with 46 supportive housing beds in March of last year. The City will have to rezone the Howard House property. It is currently owned by Turning Points, but B.C. Housing plans to buy the property.

My Place, which is operated by Turning Points since 2019 at 2600 35 St., will be getting 52 new units. While the location is already owned by B.C. Housing and is zoned for supportive housing, the addition of the new units will have to be approved by the City of Vernon.

READ MORE: New 'pods' for B.C.’s homeless during COVID-19 popping up in Vernon

"We are grateful to all our community partners, especially B.C. Housing and the City of Vernon," Turning Points executive director Randene Wejr said in the release. "Together, we have already created homes for 56 individuals who were once experiencing homelessness. The proposed projects ahead will create more than 100 more homes. The strength of any community can be witnessed in how it takes care of its most vulnerable citizens, today we get to witness that great strength in Vernon."

TPCS would operate both buildings and provide residents with meal programs, life and employment skills training, and health and wellness support services.

If the projects are approved by the City, B.C. Housing will update the community with the estimated project costs and proposed construction timelines. Funding would come from the province's Supportive Housing Fund.

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