Despite a plethora of delays by BC Housing, Cranbrook’s Mayor is confident the permanent homeless shelter will now be finished on schedule.
BC Housings’ latest update to council was that renovations are now underway and should be completed sometime in the spring.
The zoning for the shelter was approved in 2021 and its opening day has been continually delayed since then.
Mayor Wayne Price says now that construction is actually underway he’s optimistic that it will open on time.
“This deadline that they’ve given us is probably reasonable,” he said.
“When you look in the past there were just too many outstanding issues they had to deal with. I think they are beyond that now and they’re into the construction phase so I’m confident they will be open in late spring or early summer.”
The shelter is expected to have 40 beds once open.
Renovations are also expected to begin at the Cozy Bear Lodge seniors shelter.
Mayor Price says both of these projects will address a serious need in the community.
“The Cozy Bear will add another 30 beds so that’s significant and they’re saying it should be ready at about the same time. In total, that’s 70 beds,” he said.
“What I’m hearing right now in the shelter at the hotel is that we have about 16 people who are living rough right now. When you look at those types of numbers this will make an incredible difference.”
in a recent survey, 40 per cent of Cranbrook residents felt that homelessness, crime and safety were the most important issues facing the community.
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