The Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society has been selected to build and operate up to 90 units of affordable rental housing for low to modest income families and individuals at the Central Green site in Kelowna.

"Creating affordable rental housing is just one of the ways our government is putting the needs of families first in Kelowna and around British Columbia," said Premier Christy Clark, MLA for Westside-Kelowna. "We're excited to be working with the city and the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society on the development at Central Green."

The selection follows a Request for Proposal call issued by the B.C. government in September 2013. The Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society brings more than 40 years of experience to the project providing support services and affordable housing for First Nations people and individuals in need in the Kelowna area.

"Central Green is a city-led development bringing together multi-family dwellings, retail spaces, a community park and other public amenities downtown," said City of Kelowna Mayor Walter Gray. "We are delighted to have the Ki-Low-Na Friendship society as a partner in the development of this integrated, modern community."

The affordable housing development is located at 1700 Chapman Place and will be part of the larger city-led development at the Central Green site in Kelowna.

Quick Facts:

• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $3.6 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors and families. This year, more than 98,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial housing programs and services.
• Last year, the B.C. government invested over $10.7 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for more than 3,000 Kelowna households.
• Central Green will help set a new standard for development within the city and exemplify sustainable planning and building practices in an economically responsible manner. Community engagement has been an integral part of the planning process for the Central Green Development since 2008.
• Community stakeholders and the public participated in a series of public forums, open houses and focus groups.
• The Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society is a non-profit organization working with/for First Nations people since 1973 to provide support services and affordable housing. The Society is the Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program provider in the community and also operated the White Buffalo Lodge in Kelowna.

Learn More:

To learn more about affordable housing in B.C., visit: www.bchousing.org

To learn more about Central Green, visit: www.kelowna.ca/cityprojects

To learn more about the Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society, please visit: www.kfs.bc.ca

Media Contacts:

Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252

Fergus McCann
BC Housing
778 452-6445

Tom Wilson
City of Kelowna
250 469-8663