Turning Points takes over properties in Enderby

Nov 8, 2021 | 12:24 PM

There is a new owner of two properties currently operating as low income rental housing in Enderby.

Turning Points Collaborative, a non-profit society based in Vernon, is expanding its services to include new sites in the city of 3,000 residents.

The society recently acquired the Cedar Park Inn property just north of town assumed ownership of the 19-unit Hillside Apartments building at the south end of the city.

The province, through BC Housing’s HousingHub, provided $1.8 million in financing for this project and a grant of $245,000 from the Capital Renewal Fund to help with renovations.

Both properties will become part of Turning Points’ Affordable Housing programs, ensuring much needed affordable housing stock for the citizens of Enderby.

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Turning Points is led by executive director, and Enderby native, Randene Wejr.

“We have seen the need for affordable housing in Enderby grow over the past few years,” said Wejr. “When these properties became available, we felt the time was right to take them on and introduce our organization to the city.”

Randene Wejr, executive director, TPCS. (Submitted photo/TPCS)

Both properties currently operate as low-income rental housing and have 100 per cent occupancy. While the properties require some upgrades and maintenance, nobody currently renting in these units will be asked to vacate for construction or see an increase in their rental fees.

“These new properties in Enderby are ‘affordable housing,’ which simply means rents will stay affordable,” Wjer explained. “They will house all sorts of community members — seniors, folks on income assistance or disability assistance, or families struggling to make ends meet.”

Turning Points will operate these properties under the Residential Tenancy Act and all renters will be required to sign a Tenancy Agreement. Turning Points has been operating in the Okanagan since 1957, and has a long history of providing housing, outreach, addictions support, and social services to communities throughout the valley.

Wejr hopes that this can be the beginning of a valuable relationship with the City of Enderby.

“I was born and raised in this community. I live here and I see the need,” Wejr said. “While these projects may not offer the wrap around support services that some individuals may need — in this rental climate, providing affordable housing is critical. Our goal is to earn the trust of the community of Enderby as a provider of housing and other important social support services.”

The purchase of the Hillside Apartments property was made possible by a partnership with the province, through BC Housing’s HousingHub program. Created in 2018, HousingHub works with community, government, non-profit and private-sector partners to help create affordable rental housing and home-ownership options for low- and middle-income British Columbians.

“The purchase of the Hillside Apartments means that these homes will be preserved as affordable rental housing for people in Enderby,” said Harwinder Sandhu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee. “Thanks to the partnership between Turning Points Collaborative and the province, through BC Housing, tenants don’t have to worry about potential increases in rent or worse — losing their home because of redevelopment.”

The province has made $2 billion in low-cost financing available through BC Housing’s HousingHub to encourage developers and non-profits to acquire or build affordable housing by providing loans with lower interest rates than would otherwise be available. Savings are passed on to renters or homebuyers. Once the loans are repaid, HousingHub is able to reinvest those funds in additional housing, continuing to increase the number of homes built for low- and middle-income households.

For more information on HousingHub, visit https://www.bchousing.org/housinghub

For more information about Turning Points visit www.turningpoints.ngo.

by Pete McIntyre

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