Clearwater will soon have additional housing for its senior residents as the Government of British Columbia announced the funding for 20 additional rental units at Evergreen Acres.
The new units will be constructed like the 50 others on the lot, allowing local seniors to living independently while staying connected with the community.
“This new housing project will provide security, peace of mind and new opportunities for seniors in Clearwater,” said Harwinder Sandu, MLA for Vernon-Monashee, said in a media release on behalf of David Eby, Attorney General and Minister Responsible for Housing.
“We continue to work in partnership to build new affordable homes like these that allow our seniors to retire and live independently in the communities they call home.”
The site will feature a three-building complex with a total of 20 townhomes for seniors with low to moderate incomes. There will be 18 one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units, including one accessible unit.
“I am so excited to see this project go forward,” said Mayor Merlin Blackwell in a media release. “It’s such good news for our local seniors. I cannot thank the dedicated team at the Evergreen Seniors Society enough for all their efforts!
“Their hard work and support from BC Housing, the provincial government, the Wells Gray Community Forest and Evergreen Acres Senior Housing Society will allow even more local seniors to have a home in this already vibrant, safe and friendly community.”
Land for the project was provided by the Evergreen Acres Senior Housing Society, and will also own and operate the new homes. An additional $300,000 was also donated to the project in March to build a new amenities building for the complex.
After completion of the project in 2022, the complex will boast 70 units, though there is already a waiting list for the Phase 5 homes.
“The board of Evergreen Acres Senior Housing Society is pleased with this announcement,” said the EASHS board of directors in the media release. “The generous support of BC Housing, Wells Gray Community Forests, the District of Clearwater plus community support has enabled this project to proceed.
“Larch Court was completed in December 2002 and is fully occupied. Cedar Lane is the new project and will be an asset to the North Thompson Valley and will continue to allow seniors to live in their community close to family and friends.”
The Community Housing Fund is part of the province’s 1o-year, $7-billion housing plan, with the aim to to build more than 14,000 affordable rental homes for low- and moderate-income families and individuals over 10 years. More than 8,000 of these homes are already open, under construction or in development, according to the media release.
The CHF supports mixed-income buildings where 50 per cent of the units are for households with annual incomes up to $64,000, 30 per cent of the units are for households with incomes up to approximately $74,000 and 20 per cent of the units are for households with very low incomes, including those on income or disability insurance.
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