52 people coming off Vernon streets

Fifty-two people who have been homeless in Vernon will move into a four-storey modular apartment building next month.

Three of the 52 units in My Place on 27th Avenue are designed for people with disabilities. Each unit is private with a washroom and kitchenette. The ground floor includes a commercial-grade kitchen, common dining area, laundry facilities and support-service rooms, according to a news release from the province on Thursday.

The building will feature roundthe-clock support.

The Turning Points Collaborative Society will operate the building and provide residents with meal programs, life and employment skills training, and access to health and wellness services.

“A safe home is a critical foundation for recovery, while support services are the building blocks that give strength, purpose and hope so people experiencing homelessness can make a new start,” said Selina Robinson, minister of municipal affairs and housing,

in a news release.

“Imagine that every member of our community has access to safe, quality, affordable housing,” said Randene Wejr, co-executive director, Turning Points Collaborative Society. “Thanks to the work of BC Housing, the City of Vernon and community stakeholders, this dream is becoming a reality through housing projects like My Place.”

B.C.-based manufacturer Atco was selected to manufacture the modular units in Vernon and several other modular projects in B.C.