More homes for the unhoused are going up. Here’s where

A second group of small modular homes are set to go up on city land to help people experiencing homelessness.

The temporary housing will be located on a chunk of city-owned property at 2740 Highway 97 North. The village will run alongside the west side of the highway, just south of McCurdy Road.

The development will provide 60 single-room units of supportive housing.

“This will be an extremely positive initiative,” Mayor Tom Dyas told Kelowna10 when the first set of homes was announced earlier this month.

“It comes at a reasonable cost with regards to the number of units that we’re supplying, and it gives the individuals … a good sense of purpose to look at alternative direction within their own lives.”

The other modular village is set to go up in Kelowna’s North End, on city-owned land at the corner of Crowley Avenue and Weddel Place, next to where many tents are already set up along the rail trail.

The development is intended as a temporary housing solution, providing time for BC Housing and the city to find new, permanent supportive housing.

This site will be part of a pilot to see if tiny homes will work as a wider response to homelessness in B.C.

The village will be operated by a non-profit, which will provide support services such as daily meals, 24/7 staffing, access to skills training and support navigating the housing system.

Work on the site will begin in December with an expected opening date in early 2024.