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Eviction notice leaves Kelowna trailer park resident fearing homelessness

44 mobile home units at Hiawatha RV Park were served an eviction notice yesterday, making room for new development
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Residents of Hiawatha RV Park in Kelowna have until February to find new homes. Pictured above is resident Victoria Fox, pictured with her son outside her home. (Phil McLachlan - Capital News)

It91裸聊视频檚 coming down to the wire for residents of a Kelowna trailer park facing imminent eviction.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, residents of 44 units still standing at the Hiawatha RV Park found out they have four months to vacate their properties.

A controversial large condo development, spearheaded by Westcorp, an Edmonton-based developer, was revived in February of this year. They have owned the property, currently occupied by the mobile home park, since 2007. Come February 2021, once everyone is evicted, they plan on demolishing the homes and starting new.

READ MORE: Westcorp revives controversial development at Kelowna mobile home park

Park resident Victoria Fox is dreading the move. But she91裸聊视频檚 speaking up for more than just herself. She said many people with disabilities reside in the park91裸聊视频檚 low-income housing, and moving them during the winter, and during a pandemic, will be a nightmare.

91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 60 families that have to try and find homes, in four months, in the middle of winter,91裸聊视频 said Fox, adding that in the years she has lived there, the neighbourhood has been very supportive of her and her family. She said it91裸聊视频檚 been a great place to live.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 going to be so weird to have to leave our homes91裸聊视频 half of us might end up homeless. So, what are we supposed to do?91裸聊视频

Residents of the neighbourhood have started a petition against the set eviction date of Feb. 28. They say an extension to the end of April would give them more time to find new homes, as there is little to no availability for affordable housing at the moment. Fox also explained they have disputed the notice through Service BC, and hope this may result in an extension.

Westcorp vice president of operations Gail Temple said she only found out about this proposed extension yesterday (Oct. 28), and that it 91裸聊视频渞emains to be seen.91裸聊视频

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a construction schedule91裸聊视频 so we will be as sensitive to that as we can,91裸聊视频 she said. 91裸聊视频淧art of the reason we were hoping it would be springtime, is exactly that. It91裸聊视频檒l be way easier for people to find accommodation in the spring.91裸聊视频

According to Westcorp, residents have long known of the park91裸聊视频檚 fate; demolition and revitalization. The company received approval in 2013 to redevelop the 18-acre site. In an effort to support those soon to be evicted, Westcorp said packages were sent to each with contact information for other low-income housing in the area.

Fox said despite applying to all low-income housing providers in the area, she is now on a one-year waiting list. It was recently reported that Kelowna has the fifth-highest rental rate in the country. The average two-bedroom rental unit in the city now costs $1750 per month.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 nothing affordable for us, and they91裸聊视频檙e not helping us, they91裸聊视频檙e not accommodating us,91裸聊视频 said Fox.

READ MORE: Large Glenmore rental development given greenlight by Kelowna council

However, there are far fewer people to move now than there were in the recent past. The discovery of black mould in a home resulted in the inspection and demolition of 49 homes, displacing many. In 2013, there were 94 sets of mobile home owners renting pads from the company.

Temple said condo development or not, the more-than-50-year-old mobile homes were reaching end-of-life and needed to be taken down. She said the homes were purchased from those who owned them, at a fair price determined in collaboration with the City of Kelowna.

Fox understands this, but just wishes they were supported more.

91裸聊视频淚 would just like to know why they don91裸聊视频檛 care about their tenants. Why aren91裸聊视频檛 you helping us a bit more? Why aren91裸聊视频檛 you putting us into one of your apartment buildings? Do you want the rest of us to be homeless?91裸聊视频

There is no guarantee the new development will be able to house those who will be evicted.

91裸聊视频淭hey say it will be affordable housing, but I doubt it,91裸聊视频 said Fox.

Temple said they never promised the new development would be affordable. However, some of the housing she said will be appropriate for families.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e not building affordable housing, I want to be clear about that91裸聊视频 this is not going to be replacing affordable housing,91裸聊视频 said Temple, adding the entire site will be a large rental project.

In response to claims Westcorp 91裸聊视频榙oesn91裸聊视频檛 care91裸聊视频 and that many may go homeless, Temple said she was 91裸聊视频渟orry to hear someone would feel that way.91裸聊视频

91裸聊视频淚 know change is always really, really tough but that is absolutely the last thing we would feel91裸聊视频 I think we91裸聊视频檙e trying to be as sensitive and helpful through this whole process as we possibly can.91裸聊视频

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READ MORE: RCMP searching for missing Kelowna man

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: phil.mclachlan@kelownacapnews.com


 


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Phil McLachlan

About the Author: Phil McLachlan

Phil McLachlan is the editor at the Penticton Western News. He served as the reporter, and eventually editor of The Free Press newspaper in Fernie.
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