The provincial government’s recent purchase of the Journey Inn Motel will help to increase the availability of affordable housing in Vernon.

The motel, located at 3000 28th Ave., will be operated by the John Howard Society of the North Okanagan/Kootenay Region. It will provide 38 units of housing for people at risk of homelessness who are able to live independently with minimal supports.

The society’s goal is to create a safe and friendly community for residents, many of whom have been living in uncertain and insecure situations for some time. There will be a community kitchen and garden, as well as programs to help residents overcome social isolation and foster a sense of safety and belonging.

BC Housing and the John Howard Society will work in partnership with local community agencies to find the right mix of tenants to foster a supportive community.

Renovations to make the building safer and more comfortable will begin in fall 2015 and are expected to continue until late 2016. The goal is to provide tenants with a safe, affordable and friendly community. Many of the prospective tenants are seniors and have been living in transitional housing for up to two years.

The first tenants are expected to move in over the next few weeks. A building manager will be available during normal weekday hours, and after-hours assistance will be available in the event of a building emergency.

Quotes:

Eric Foster, MLA, Vernon-Monashee –

“Purchasing the Journey Inn is an important step to increasing the affordable housing options for Vernon. This means that vulnerable individuals who need affordable housing will now have a safe, secure place to call home.”

Barbara Levesque, executive director, John Howard Society of the North Okanagan / Kootenay Region of B.C. –

“We’re excited to be working together with the Province on this project. It builds on our goal of providing a continuum of housing options for low-income residents in the North Okanagan. Many of the prospective tenants are working either part-time or full-time, but haven’t been able to find safe housing they can afford. The location is within walking distance to many amenities and is ideal for people who cannot afford transportation. This project will give tenants the opportunity to live with dignity and hope for a brighter future.”

Quick Facts:

• Last year, the Province invested over $6.1 million to provide subsidized housing and rent supplements for more than 1,700 households in Vernon. This includes providing support for more than 1,100 senior households and almost 320 family households.
• The B.C. government provided more than $2.7 million last year to support more than 100 housing units for the homeless or those at-risk of homelessness in Vernon.
• Since 2001, the B.C. government has invested $4.4 billion to provide affordable housing for low-income individuals, seniors, and families. This year, more than 102,000 B.C. households will benefit from provincial social housing programs and services.

Learn More:

For more information on provincial affordable housing programs and efforts to end homelessness in B.C., please visit: www.housingmattersbc.ca/factsheets.html and www.bchousing.org

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