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A motel in Kelowna will be renovated into an affordable rental property for the homeless.
The Government of British Columbia announced on Friday morning that it has bought the former Econo Lodge motel and will be flipping it to make affordable housing.
Within the new rental property, there will be 44 self-contained units for people with low incomes who are able to live independently, but struggle to find affordable housing in Kelowna.
The federal and provincial governments provided $5 million for the purchase of the Econo Lodge motel and for the renovations that will happen.
"The B.C. government is committed to increasing safe, affordable housing options, and converting existing buildings into affordable rental housing is a model that has proven successful in a number of communities. It's going to give 44 individuals or families a place to call home," Premier Christy Clark said in a press release.
Mayor Colin Basran said this property, which is located at 1780 Gordon Dr., is a step in the right direction.
"We welcome this addition to the City of Kelowna's spectrum of housing options for people who don't have a permanent place to live, or are at risk of being homeless. It's another great example of governments working together to fund solutions for new affordable housing options in Kelowna."
The province will own the property and BC Housing will operate it. There will also be onsite staff for tenants to work with on an individual basis.
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