Count of homeless people in B.C. to include Kelowna
Housing minister wants to determine scope of problem
Kelowna will be part of a provincial homelessness count in an effort to determine the scope of the city’s housing issues, says Housing Minister Selina Robinson.
Robinson was in Kelowna for a few days to learn more about housing issues in the region.
“I’m certainly seeing that housing here in Kelowna, with one of the lowest vacancy rates in the nation, is a significant challenge,” she said. “I worry about those on a fixed income, those that are just starting out in life and those who may not be in the market, and how they are going to find housing that meets their needs.”
With homelessness on the rise in Kelowna, the count will help the provincial government determine the scope of the problem, said Robinson.
While in Kelowna, Robinson said she met with the City of Kelowna’s Journey Home task force, which is working to address homelessness.
“I want to get a sense of what initiatives are here and how I, as minister of housing, can champion them and expand them,” she said.
Robinson also met with seniors’ housing providers to learn more about the needs of local seniors.
“I want to make sure I understand what it’s like for seniors here in Kelowna who are on a fixed income, and what their housing needs are . . . and how do they see themselves benefiting from government investments and from collaboration with senior levels of government and non-profit providers so we can do a better job of delivering on their housing needs.”