Women and children leaving violence will soon have more safe places to regroup, recover and build a better future in the Okanagan area.

“Women and children need to know there are safe places, compassionate care, and hope when they make the decision to leave an abusive situation,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We’re working hard to make sure women and children have homes to provide new stable foundations on which they can rebuild their lives, homes like the ones coming soon to Penticton.”

The project is funded through the Building BC: Women's Transition Fund and will provide units for up to 36 women and children leaving violence. This fund, a $734-million investment over 10 years, will build 1,500 transition housing, second-stage housing, and long-term housing spaces for women and children leaving violence. The first round of investments will see more than 300 new homes built through 13 projects in communities throughout the province.

“All efforts to assist and improve the lives of those in need are a welcome addition to the available housing supports in Penticton,” said John Vassilaki, mayor, City of Penticton. “This particular project not only provides critical housing, it also creates access to the equally important support services that assist women and their families.”

The South Okanagan Women in Need Society (SOWINS) will manage the day-to-day operations and will oversee the resident selection process. Since 1981, the society has offered women and their children a safe place to stay, along with essentials such as food, clothing and toiletries. The society offers women ongoing counselling, support and preventive education programs.

“For the first time in Penticton, thanks to BC Housing, SOWINS is now able to offer permanent, safe, affordable housing to women and children,” said Debbie Scarborough, executive director, SOWINS. “SOWINS is so excited to hand over the keys to these mums and their children, who now have new, safe and affordable homes.”

Residents will receive support services, including access to health services, counselling, resumé building, interview skills and workshops, such as building healthy relationships, financial literacy and self-care.

More than 20,000 new homes are completed or underway as a result of provincial investments, including more than 2,600 new supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness in British Columbia. These include the following additional homes for women and children leaving violence in the Interior:

• Kamloops – Kamloops and District Elizabeth Fry Society will operate up to 50 units of second-stage housing;
• Invermere – Family Dynamix Association will operate seven safe-home and second-stage housing units; and
• Kelowna – Central Okanagan Emergency Shelter Society will operate up to 50 units of second-stage and permanent affordable housing.

Delivering affordable housing is a shared priority between government and the BC Green Party caucus, and is part of the Confidence and Supply Agreement.

Quick Facts:

• The BC Society of Transition Houses has worked with BC Housing on a provincewide needs assessment to help target project funding in communities.
• Second-stage housing provides safe short-term housing and supports for women after they leave an abusive relationship or situation. Women can stay for six to 18 months, while they prepare for independent living.
• Women’s transition houses are staffed 24/7 and provide safe, short-term shelter and supports. A typical stay is for 30 days.
• Safe homes provide short-term shelter and supports – typically for 10 days – for women and children leaving violence, particularly in rural and remote communities.
• The Building BC: Women’s Transition Housing Fund was launched in Budget 2018 as part of the Province’s 10-year housing plan. The housing plan outlines the largest investment in affordable housing in B.C.’s history – more than $7 billion over 10 years.

Learn More:

A map showing the location of all announced projects is now available online:
https://www.bchousing.org/homes-for-BC

Read Homes for B.C., government’s 30-point plan to address housing affordability for British Columbians:
bcbudget.gov.bc.ca/2018/homesbc/2018_Homes_For_BC.pdf

To find out what the Province is doing to improve housing affordability, visit:
news.gov.bc.ca/factsheets/bc-government-addressing-housing-affordability-challenges

A backgrounder follows.