Kelowna - McCurdy Rd Supportive Housing

Consultation has concluded

Exterior photo of new three-storey supportive housing building. Street view with snow.

Overview

BC Housing, they City of Kelowna, and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kelowna, are pleased to announce that McCurdy Place, a new supportive site, is opening in Kelowna. The building will be operated by CMHA Kelowna and we expect to begin moving people in March 2021.

Community Engagement

BC Housing and its partners hosted an in-person session on June 26, 2019 at Rutland Centennial Hall, in Kelowna. A Let’s Talk page was also live on the BC Housing website so that feedback and questions related to the project could be submitted.

About McCurdy Place

Located at 130 McCurdy Road

Overview

BC Housing, they City of Kelowna, and Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kelowna, are pleased to announce that McCurdy Place, a new supportive site, is opening in Kelowna. The building will be operated by CMHA Kelowna and we expect to begin moving people in March 2021.

Community Engagement

BC Housing and its partners hosted an in-person session on June 26, 2019 at Rutland Centennial Hall, in Kelowna. A Let’s Talk page was also live on the BC Housing website so that feedback and questions related to the project could be submitted.

About McCurdy Place

Located at 130 McCurdy Road, McCurdy Place provides 49 new safe, secure, homes for individuals who need supports in order to stabilize their housing and improve their quality of life. McCurdy Place provides diverse and specialized help for residents in a way that is unique to this building.

Housing with Support

Supportive housing is a self-contained studio home with supports provided on-site, to ensure people can achieve and maintain housing stability. Supports could include outreach workers, wellness checks, life skills training, employment assistance, connection and referral to community services and support groups. BC Housing and the housing operator will collaborate with local service providers on a thoughtful and thorough assessment process to ensure an appropriate mix of residents with the right supports live in the housing.

People who live at McCurdy Place will meet eligibility requirements around income, required supports, and programming. This housing will be prioritized for people who are either already on a path to recovery from drug and/or alcohol use or are ready to make a change in their lives. One floor of the project is dedicated to specifically supporting young adults.

Supports specific to McCurdy Place include:

  • Mental Health and Substance Use Specialist
  • Home Support Worker
  • Recreation Worker
  • Youth Housing Worker

These supports are in addition to the regular CMHA Kelowna staff. Staff will be on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week. During the day, due to programming activities, there will be more than two staff on-site and they will work with other organizations in the community to ensure residents have access to the help they need.

Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kelowna

CMHA Kelowna, an experienced local service provider, will operate McCurdy Place. Staff will be on-site 24/7 to facilitate connections to community health and support services, including life and employment skills training, health and wellness support services and opportunities for volunteer work. For more information please visit: cmhakelowna.com

Community Advisory Committee

CMHA Kelowna has developed a Community Advisory Committee to mitigate and address any related concerns that come forward, with representation from BC Housing, Interior Health, the City of Kelowna, RCMP, CMHA Kelowna, local businesses, community organizations and community members.

The Community Advisory Committee is responsible for:

  • Identifying and resolving any issues, opportunities, and concerns related to building operations.
  • Communicating proactively with each other in order to develop solutions to issues.
  • Building positive relationships amongst the community, housing operators, and program partners.

For information on the Community Advisory Committee please contact: mccurdy.place@cmha.bc.ca


Consultation has concluded

Thanks to all who participated. We are no longer taking questions for this project. If you have a query please see our archived responses to all questions asked.

  • We all are well aware that the problem isnt homelessness in our city its a drug problem. Its a huge waste of money and resources to throw housing up for people that want to live on the street and use drugs. I guarantee 100% this project will fail and will become a place to inject and prostitute and wont even make any noticeable difference. Watch seattle is dying. We need to stop tolerating drug use and homelessness in our public areas and arrest these people and force them into drug treatment. Why not build a drug rehab facility where these people can be put for a duration till they are clean and then transitioned into the community with seamless resources. And dont tell is its a misconception that homelessness is not a substance abuse issue. Its not a homeless issue its a drug issue

    Cmac asked over 4 years ago

    Supportive housing follows an evidence based and internationally demonstrated Housing First model, which aims to end chronic homelessness by first providing stable housing, and then working with the resident to promote recovery and well being. Supportive housing works to lessen the impact issues have by providing a safe environment where medical intervention is readily available. Building staff and partners like Interior Health provide ongoing guidance, encouragement and support to individuals living in supportive housing. Learn more about Housing First.

    Individuals with substance misuse and mental health issues are already living on our streets, in our parks and in our neighbourhoods. Our goal is to provide them housing and support them in their journey to a healthier life.


  • Do you offer housing to people with disabilities.

    adroec asked over 4 years ago

    Supportive housing is for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who require additional supports to maintain housing. If a person with a disability meets eligibility requirements, they would be considered for the new supportive housing on McCurdy Road.

    There are a variety of housing options available to people with disabilities, funded through BC Housing, across Kelowna. Learn more about the Independent Living BC program: www.bchousing.org/housing-assistance/housing-with-support/independent-living-bc-program and how to determine which programs you may be eligible for: https://programfinder.bchousing.org/programfinder

    BC Housing is also working on several affordable rental housing projects, including bringing 111 new units of affordable rental housing for families, seniors and people with disabilities in Rutland, at Nissen Crossing (78 units) and Dougall Road North (33 units). 

  • If residents do not follow "expected behaviours" and "building rules" will there be any consequences and or eviction of the residents? What will be the process for dealing with problematic tenants?

    74589 asked over 4 years ago

    All residents enter into a program agreement with the operator CMHA. The program agreements cover such things as rent contribution; pets and pest control; medication dispensation; meals and nutrition; behavioural expectations; fire safety; visitors and other guidelines and policies. Residents are expected to adhere to the program agreement, and if they cannot, and depending on the situation they could put their housing at risk. Please be aware that the objective is to keep people housed, help them stabilize, and support them on their personal journey to wellness. For some people this takes longer than others. Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna (CMHA), has extensive experience working with both youth and adults. Evictions can cycle people back into homelessness or the shelter system. They are a last resort when all other interventions have failed.

  • This type of facility does not belong anywhere near schools. I lived on the road next to Health House on Hwy 97 and witnessed my neighborhood turn into a dumping ground for discarded needles, garbage, stolen bikes etc. I had to explain things to my children that was far beyond their years that I felt they shouldve been protected from seeing. I've had to call the police to remove people from our neighboring property at which time the police officer told me that this neighborhood is "definitely on their radar lately". So my question is, what measures are going to be taken to ensure that this isnt going to happen now at this new location?

    Leamar123 asked over 4 years ago

    A common misconception around supportive housing is that all of the residents have addictions issues and are engaged in criminal activity. It is unfortunate that those experiencing homelessness in Kelowna are so often painted with the same brush when in reality there are many reasons why someone might have become homeless or need support in maintaining a home.Heath House on Highway 97 is the first home some individuals have had after living in survival mode on the streets for years. It is not uncommon for those transitioning from living on the streets or in shelter to experience a settling down period, and for the vast majority of those living at Heath House, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive, and without issue.

    CMHA convenes a community advisory committee that meets monthly and is always open to community feedback and working towards resolving concerns. That committee is made up of staff from BC Housing, Interior Health, the RCMP and Bylaw, as well as CMHA and the business representatives and home owners for the surrounding neighborhood.

    Rutland may not have the level harm reduction focus it requires and this may be something you are seeing. As an addition to the City of Kelowna’s sharps disposal pickup hotline, this site will be an added resource for the safe collection and disposal of sharps and other paraphernalia. CMHA has recently committed additional resources to the development of a “clean team” that actively participate in the cleanup of the neighborhood surrounding Heath House, and a clean team would be something CMHA will be looking at creating for the McCurdy area as well.

  • There three schools within 500m-1km of this location - what measures will be put in place to guarantee the safety of these children? Especially since the facility does not restrict substance use.

    ltar asked over 4 years ago

    Schools are located within all communities and it is very challenging to find a suitable location for supportive housing that is not near a school. When considering supportive housing locations, we look for land that is within close proximity to transit, amenities and services. We also intentionally consider locations that have an established community.

    Many people who are experiencing homelessness have been living in isolation or have lost their connection to community. One of the goals of supportive housing is to help residents engage with their surrounding community and build a sense of belonging.

    BC Housing and CMHA take the safety of residents, staff and the surrounding community seriously. This Supportive Housing will have 24-hour a day, 7-days-a-week staffing available to ensure that any concerns are addressed in a timely manner. CMHA will lead a Community Advisory Committee that will meet monthly to discuss any concerns or issues. It will include representatives from BC Housing, Interior Health, the City of Kelowna, RCMP and community members. 

  • As a follow up, is CMHA willing to look at it's eligibility criteria and in fact restrict substance use based on this location's proximity to schools? Or, is the eligibility criteria set in stone?

    Teija asked over 4 years ago

    Applicants will need to be at least 19 years of age; have a history of homelessness or be at risk of homelessness; need additional support to maintain housing; with priority given to people active in their recovery and receiving support from community-based agencies, and youth aged 19-24. A common misconception around supportive housing is that all of the residents have addictions issues and are engaged in criminal activity. It is unfortunate that those experiencing homelessness in Kelowna are so often painted with the same brush when in reality there are many reasons why someone might have become homeless, or need support in maintaining a home. While there will be individuals that are in various stages of struggling with health issues, this site will be home specifically to those who have made steps towards stabilizing their lives, but continue to need the support of the staff and community to move forward.

  • Can I see a copy of the resident program agreement? I’d like to understand the eligibility requirements better.

    KalebAdam asked over 4 years ago

    We are providing a sample Program Agreement for your reference – posted in the Document Library section on this page.

  • Is this facility going to allow drug use on site such as similar facilities do nearby? Or will it be prohibited? I'm worried about the safety of the surrounding area once it's built, including the school and the hospice facility

    skyshroud6 asked almost 5 years ago

    The new homes with on-site supports will be open to people who meet the eligibility criteria, which does not restrict substance use. However, those who are active in their recovery and receiving support from community-based agencies will get priority for this housing.

    Applicants will go through a thorough assessment process which will identify people committed to recovery and ensure they’re receiving the appropriate community based supports. 

    The safety of our future residents, staff and the surrounding community is a priority for all partners. These permanent supportive homes will have experienced staff available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to ensure that residents are supported and that any concerns are addressed in the timely manner. All residents will sign a program agreement, which will detail expected resident behaviours and the building's rules. 

    CMHA will lead be a Community Advisory Committee that will meet monthly to discuss any concerns or issues. It will include representatives from BC Housing, Interior Health, the City of Kelowna, RCMP and community members.

  • Will this likely be a wet or a dry facility?

    Teija asked almost 5 years ago

    The new homes with on-site supports will be open to people who meet the eligibility criteria, which does not restrict substance use. However, those who are active in their recovery and receiving support from community-based agencies will get priority for this housing. 

    Applicants will go through a thorough assessment process which will identify people committed to recovery and ensure they’re receiving the appropriate community based supports.