Kelowna's newest supportive housing opens doors on Monday

Forty-nine of Kelowna's most vulnerable people will find themselves with a roof over their heads Monday, when the city's newest supportive housing development opens its doors.

McCurdy Place, on the corner of McCurdy and Rutland roads, is unique among Kelowna's supportive housing developments, in that it offers more "wrap-around" services for residents in recovery.

The development was met with serious opposition by residents in the area back when it was first announced in 2019, and more than 14,000 people signed a petition opposing its construction. As a result, the housing development was changed from allowing drug use on site, to recovery-based housing.

“We've looked at those who want to be here and want to engage with our mental health and substance use specialist,” said Jen Kanters, associate director of housing and homelessness services with the Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna.

“We're able to look at other supportive housing sites and find individuals who may need the supports here, or may want the supports that are offered here, and in turn with doing that, we're opening up more supportive housing for individuals who may be coming off the street who may need more of a harm reduction approach and have services provided at other sites, such as overdose prevention."

While drug use won't be permitted at McCurdy Place, Kanters said they'll be working with residents on a case-by-case basis.

“We understand that sometimes a slip is part of recovery and the last thing we want to do is lead someone into the experience of homelessness because they've had a slip in their journey,” Kanters said.

“If they did, then they would be working closely with a mental health and substance use specialist to recommit to their wellness plan. If substance use became problematic for that individual, for the other residents that live here or for the community, then we would look at transitioning them to alternative housing that was more appropriate for their support needs.”

The facility will be run by Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna, with funding through BC Housing. The province will provide an annual operating subsidy of up to $1.4 million to run the facility.

Over the past two years, BC Housing has opened 274 units of supportive housing in Kelowna, including 38 units on Ellis Street, 51 units on Agassiz Road and 50 units on McIntosh Road.

Another unique feature of McCurdy Place is that seven of the rooms have been set aside for people between the ages of 17 and 19, while another 10 are for people between 20 and 24. Kanters says this will help provide support to youth who have aged out of foster care, and are left with nowhere to go.

Rooms at McCurdy Place are partially subsidized by BC Housing, and residents must pay $375 per month, which includes two meals per day and access to the many support services on site. Move in for the 49 residents begins Monday.