Tiny homes will start arriving next week at site in Kelowna's North End

Starting next week, tiny homes for people experiencing homelessness will begin arriving at the site in Kelowna’s North End.

The pilot project was announced in fall 2023 and will see 60 homes installed at 759 Crowley Avenue, which has been named STEP Place, and another 60 units on a city-owned site off Highway 97.

Each stand-alone unit will be outfitted with storage shelving, a bed and a heating unit. Work also continues on other site buildings and amenities including washrooms, staff facilities and community dining area, the city says in a release.

“Illustrating a step between shelter and permanent housing, the name is an acronym for Supported Transitional housing with Embedded Programming (STEP),” the city says.

“Stays at STEP Place are intended to be brief and helpful, focused on preparing participants for a permanent housing solution that meets their needs.”

In late December, the city and BC Housing announced that the John Howard Society of Okanagan and Kootenay will operate the site at 759 Crowley Ave, which should be operational by the end of this month or early February.

Turning Points Collaborative Society will operate the site at 2740 Highway 97, which will not be finished until at least March.

A “community conversation” in regard to the Crowley site that was meant to happen this week was cancelled due to the weather, but a rescheduled event is being planned.

A separate event in regards to the Highway 97 project is also in the works.

Those interested in attending the sessions can email [email protected] to register.

The possibility of a third site was hinted at when the city announced it would be taking over the Journey Home Strategy in December, but no details have been revealed.