A concept image for the project aimed at housing individuals involved in the North Okanagan medical residency program in Vernon (image courtesy of AIM Development via Community Futures North Okanagan)

By Liam Verster

Housing For Residency Program

Vernon housing project aims to attract medical professionals

May 4, 2023 | 5:00 PM

A new housing project is being launched to attract medical professionals to Vernon and the North Okanagan.

As a North Okanagan medical residence program is set to launch in 2024, Community Futures North Okanagan and local home developer, AIM Development and Management, have come together to build a place for those individuals to live.

The workforce housing project will provide a place for six family medicine residents to live in 2024, with Community Futures stating in a release that six more residents will be housed the following year.

“This new economic development project will support a critically challenged sector of our economy that affects thousands of residents,” Leigha Horsfield, executive director of Community Futures stated in the release.

“Access to medical care and childcare are significant factors skilled workers take into account when deciding to reside in a community.”

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Community Futures said over 20,000 people in the North Okanagan do not have a family doctor, and the local physician shortage has led to growing waitlists at family practices and walk-in clinics as well as added pressure on emergency departments and all healthcare services.

“The residency program is a great thing for our community. Other sites across the province continue to see residency programs as one of the strongest recruitment tools to get family doctors trained and practicing in their region,” Dr. Travis Allen, site director of the family residency program, said in the release.

“Creating this pool of resources makes family medicine more sustainable for our community and directly benefits the patients.”

The housing project will be located on a subdivided property on 25th St. in Vernon. The property already has an existing home on site, which will remain in place as two new homes with suites are developed.

AIM Development had previously purchased the property and has agreed to sell it to Community Futures at a discounted price and manage construction of the project.

Construction has yet to begin as Community Futures is looking for partners and sponsors to help with obtaining materials or services. Anyone wishing to support the project can contact Community Futures at 2550-545-2215.

Community Futures expects the new housing to be ready for occupancy in May of 2024.