Stock photo courtesy of the City of Kelowna

By Liam Verster

Wrap-Around Supports

Provincial investment to bring more complex-care housing to Kelowna

Apr 15, 2024 | 3:00 PM

More wrap-around housing supports are being made available in Kelowna and several other B.C. municipalities.

The province announced that 240 new complex-care housing units will be made available throughout B.C. to provide people with mental health challenges, development disabilities, addiction issues, trauma and/or brain injuries a place to live where they can also access supports.

“People dealing with serious mental-health, addiction and housing challenges are often left behind,” Jennifer Whiteside, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, said.

“Their complex needs can lead to a cycle of evictions, stays in shelters and repeated visits to emergency rooms. We’re supporting more complex-care housing, so more people can get the co-ordinated care they need right in their own homes, and they can live happier and healthier lives in their communities and remain connected to their support networks.”

Through this initiative, 20 new complex-care housing units will be built in Kelowna.

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“Today’s announcement is a celebrated and much-needed investment in our community, as we strive to provide dignified and compassionate care and housing for our most vulnerable residents,” Tom Dyas, mayor of Kelowna, stated.

“We are proud to have contributed municipal land for this new site and to have worked closely with government and agency partners on finding solutions for complex challenges of social, health, housing and safety issues. This project will have a significant impact on the health and safety of our community as we continue to grow.”

The communities of Kamloops, Abbotsford, Nanaimo, Prince George, Sechelt, Surrey, Vancouver and Victoria will each see 20 new complex-care units built in their municipalities through this investment. New Westminster and Burnaby will each see 10 new complex-care units built in their municipalities. The remaining 40 units will be Indigenous-led, and will be unveiled once partnerships have been put in place in priority communities.

“People who have complex health issues overlapping with housing insecurity challenges are often caught up in a cycle of homelessness,” Housing Minister, Ravi Kahlon, said.

“The expansion of complex-care housing throughout the province means more people can access personalized care tailored to their specific needs. Integrated health, social and cultural supports are essential to providing a pathway to secure housing and well-being.”

The province noted complex-care housing is part of the the Safer Communities Action Plan, adding this initiative is supported by $266-million previously committed in Budget 2023, including $169-million in capital funding to build new homes.