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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
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| Backgrounder(s) & FactSheet(s): | Backgrounder |
“The provincial government is committed to breaking the cycle of
homelessness by helping those most in need find housing where they can receive
the support they need to move forward with their lives,” said Al Horning, MLA
for Kelowna-Lake Country. “Cardington Apartments will bring new hope to those
that need it most by providing a safe home and stability for those in recovery
in
Cardington Apartments is a result of the Premier’s Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions, which was created to help people with addictions and mental health issues move from temporary shelters to long-term, stable housing. The Province provided a loan in the form of a mortgage and a one-time grant of $50,000 for this project.
The Province will be providing
operating subsidies for the 30 units funded by the Provincial Homelessness
Initiative (PHI), which aims to break the cycle of homelessness. The City of
“Access to safe, secure housing is
a fundamental part of building a healthy community,” said Sharon Shepherd, mayor of the City of
Interior Health will provide support services to the residents of Cardington Apartments. “This project is about providing men and women who have mental health and addiction issues with support and services that will allow them to move forward to independent living,” said Joanne Konnert, chief operating officer of Interior Health. “Our trained support workers will be working with residents to guide them towards positive life changes.”
Cardington Apartments is owned and
operated by the John Howard Society of the Central and
“Cardington Apartments is not simply a way to get people off the streets, but to provide a wide range of services designed to educate and support individuals in the recovery process to move on with their lives,” said Shelley Cook, executive director of the John Howard Society of the Central and South Okanagan.
The Province has committed to creating more than 4,000 new and upgraded supportive housing units in communities across B.C. under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative. Budget 2008 increased the amount the Province invests in affordable housing and shelters to more than $400 million a year, more than three times as much as in 2001.
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contact: |
BC Housing 604 439-4740 604 374-8301 (cell)
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Communications Officer Interior Health 250 862-8394 250 801-9050
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Community Planning Manager City of Kelowna 250 469-8633
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Executive Director The John Howard Society of the Central and South Okanagan 250 763-1331
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For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca. |
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