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Rapid Safety Net Housing

Home > Our community > Social wellness > Rapid Safety Net Housing
Quick-build housing solutions
With the Province and BC Housing, we’re taking action to better support people who are unhoused, sheltering in encampments and to help prevent encampments in the future. A first step will see 120 units of temporary transitional housing deployed in Kelowna
READ THE ANNOUNCEMENT

There is an urgent and ongoing need to provide shelter for the unhoused in our community. The number of people experiencing homelessness continues to grow and existing shelters are at capacity. Adding new shelter and housing options, as well as enhanced support services, remains a key part of building social wellness and reducing homelessness in our community.  

In partnership with BC Housing, rapid safety net housing is a new housing solution being introduced in Kelowna to help fill much needed shelter and housing gaps in the housing spectrum. These housing sites feature small, sleeper units that can be built quickly and offer supports that help people prepare for and find a more permanent home.  

These are temporary housing solutions, providing time for BC Housing to continue working with the city to identify new permanent supportive housing.

New temporary housing spaces 

October 2023 the Province announced funding for 120 units of temporary housing. These units are year-round 24/7 temporary housing under the new Homeless Encampment Action Response Temporary Housing (HEARTH) program and anchored by the MOU signed between the Province and the City of Kelowna. 

  • The first project of 60 tiny units are located at 759 Crowley Avenue. STEP Place and managed by John Howard Society of Okanagan and Kootenay. The site features staff on site 24/7, privacy fencing, 60 sleeper units, a community room and kitchen, shared washroom facilities, on-site laundry and staff buildings.   For project details, visit letstalkhousingbc.ca/kelowna-crowley-ave 

  • The second project, of 60 room modular housing site, is located at 2740 Hwy 97. Trailside is operated by Turning Points Collaborative Society and provides support services such as daily meals, 24/7 staffing, access to skills training and support navigating the housing system. For project details, visit https://letstalkhousingbc.ca/kelowna-2740-highway-97 

  • The third project, expected to open in 2025, will include up to 60 tiny units will be at 3199 Appaloosa Road. Support services will include daily meals, 24/7 staffing, access to skills training and employment assistance. For project details, visit: Kelowna– 3199 Appaloosa Road | Let's Talk Housing BC (letstalkhousingbc.ca) 

Both the City and BC Housing are committed to engaging with neighbours and providing project details as they emerge. Sign up to receive project updates by email. 

One part in the big picture 

We know temporary housing alone isn’t the only solution to the challenges we’re facing in Kelowna and around the Province. Our approach is to work with partners, like BC Housing to deliver smaller scale, purpose-built housing in a balanced manner.  

A variety of shelter and supportive housing types, will continue to be needed in the future and will be developed as the availability of land, funding, and supports evolve.    

Example of Pallet Tiny Home

Pictured above: example village set up of Pallet tiny units