Society hopes to revamp former halfway house
A former halfway house will be renovated to accommodate more residents with developmental challenges.
The John Howard Society hopes to win rezoning approval on July 17 to the property at 1033 Harvey Ave, just west of Gordon Drive.
It was leased for many years to the Okanagan Halfway House Society, and had room for 10 people making the transition between jail and freedom.
Now, the John Howard Society has taken over the building and wants to renovate the basement.
"We offer a range of services to people living with neurodevelopment disabilities, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, mental illness, addiction and/or who have been involved in the justice system," the society's executive director, Gaelene Askeland, writes in a letter to the city.
"The residents of 1033 Harvey are carefully screened and sign agreements that require them to live clean and sober while residing in the home," Askeland says. "It feels wrong to have usable space in the basement level sitting vacant when we have people waiting for placement in the home."
City planners support the necessary rezoning to two-dwelling housing with boarding or lodging house. The official community plan "supports the creation of affordable and safe rental, non-market and/or special needs housing," staff write in a report to council.
As of the report's writing, none of the property's neighbours had commented on the rezoning proposal. Interested members of the public can address council at the July 17 meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.