91Ƶ

Skip to content

Supportive housing project to have 91Ƶminimal impact91Ƶ on Kelowna neighbourhood

The project at 3199 Appaloosa Road will provide up to 60 tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness
web1_240119-kcn-crowley-housing-tinyhomes_1
The transitional housing project will provide tiny homes similar to the one pictured for people experiencing homelessness. Photo | City of Kelowna

Some homeowners in a north Kelowna neighbourhood have received notices from BC Housing about a temporary, transitional housing project planned for their area.

The project at 3199 Appaloosa Road was announced on Aug. 26 and area residents have told Capital News that the first they heard of the development was through local media reports.

It91Ƶs the third site in the city, funded through the province91Ƶs Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing program (HEARTH). The other sites are on Crawley Avenue and Highway 97 North. 

Up to 60 tiny homes will be placed on the site for use by people experiencing homelessness. Residents are upset that they were not told about the project before it was announced publicly.

91ƵThe site will be designed to minimize impact on neighbours,91Ƶ states a letter from BC Housing, provided to Capital News by an area resident. 91ƵThere will be security features for the benefit of the residents and the surrounding community.91Ƶ

Safety, increased crime, vandalism and drug use/dealing were among several concerns discussed by neighbours during a community meeting held just hours after the Appaloosa Rd. development was made public.

In an interview with Capital News on Aug. 27, resident Kelsey McCallen stated that one of her neighbours was told by a staff manager at the City of Kelowna that there were 91Ƶvery low RCMP calls in our neighbourhood so they thought it would be a good spot for this.91Ƶ

In a statement to Capital News the city91Ƶs social development manager, Colleen Cornock, noted she had responded to inquiries from residents about the project site and calls for service were discussed. 

91ƵIt sounds like there may have been some miscommunication, however, as it relates to a relationship between calls for service and site selection.91Ƶ

Cornock stated that calls for service, including RCMP and bylaw services, are reviewed for the time proceeding and following the opening of a HEARTH site, as is the case with supportive housing and other safety net housing projects in the city. 

91ƵThis ongoing review enables various departments including social development, community safety, bylaw and our RCMP partners to monitor potential changes that may occur between pre and post-opening,91Ƶ she said. 
 
Cornock also noted that there are limited locations on the market suitable for rapid safety-net housing and that the city is committed to balancing sites throughout Kelowna as much as possible. 

91ƵThis site is close to many employment opportunities and outdoor amenities and is within walking distance to transit. We'll be looking at what amenities or services need to be added to the site to help make it successful, such as transit.91Ƶ

BC Housing has indicated that it will provide further comment to Capital News regarding its public engagement process.



Gary Barnes

About the Author: Gary Barnes

Journalist and broadcaster for three decades.
Read more



(or

91Ƶ

) document.head.appendChild(flippScript); window.flippxp = window.flippxp || {run: []}; window.flippxp.run.push(function() { window.flippxp.registerSlot("#flipp-ux-slot-ssdaw212", "Black Press Media Standard", 1281409, [312035]); }); }