Residents will move into a new supportive residential complex on McCurdy Road in Kelowna on March 22, 2021.
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
March 19, 2021 – 6:00 p.m.
Starting next week, ex-homeless people in Kelowna will move into their new home, a supportive residential complex on McCurdy Road.
McCurdy Place is located in the former Knights of Columbus Hall and offers 49 studio apartments for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
The move-in begins on March 22nd.
One floor of the four-story complex is also dedicated to supporting youth.
The Knights of Columbus will also have an on-site office.
The Kelowna Mental Health Association of Canada and the District Branch will manage the building and residents will receive individual planning to develop their life and social skills such as employment planning and the transition to independence and recovery. This emerges from a media release from BC Housing.
At least two employees will be on site at all times and the complex will receive additional support, such as a specialist in mental health and substance use.
The studio suites have a bed, bath, kitchenette, storage room and WiFi, said Jennifer Kanters, deputy director of housing and homelessness for the mental health association.
Formerly homeless people are housed in a new supportive apartment on McCurdy Road.
(CARLI BERRY / iNFOnews.ca)
McCurdy Place is different from other support housing in the community with specific housing for teenagers and support services tailored to their needs, she said.
The apartment’s new commercial kitchen also provides 170 meals per day for supportive residential complexes across Kelowna.
In 2019, protesters expressed concern about the supporting housing complex.
Many protesters call it a “wet house” because they believe it gives drug addicts free rein to abuse substances in the neighborhood.
More than 14,000 people signed a petition to the BC Department of Local Affairs and Housing speaking out against the complex.
READ MORE: Kelowna Mayor Shakes Off Petition To Support Housing On McCurdy Road
To remedy this, Kanters said CMHA was committed to the community and invited residents to tour the complex to clarify any concerns or questions.
“We want to build an open line of communication … so that we can solve (all problems) as best we can,” she said.
Residents of the complex have agreed to create a recovery and wellness plan and work with the mental health and substance use specialist, she said.
“If someone moves in and has problem substance use … we will try to move them to alternative accommodation that is better suited to their support needs,” said Kanters.
They will also sign a program agreement pledging not to use illegal drugs locally in order to continually relax and be comfortable, Samantha Cacnio, senior communications advisor at BC Housing, said via email.
A Community Advisory Committee was also set up and a mail drop was carried out for local residents. CMHA has also reached out to local businesses and the school board for information about the complex, Kanters said.
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