BC Housing gives update on Cranbrook homeless shelter project

BC Housing is pressing forward with its plans to create a year-round shelter for Cranbrook’s homeless population.

The agency attended Monday’s Cranbrook City Council meeting to give an update on the conditions at the temporary shelter at the Travelodge and their efforts for a permanent structure.

Director of Regional Development Tyler Bates says they are looking for a location that meets their key considerations of land, space, zoning requirements and proximity to the transit system.

“Once we identify a site, there’s some due diligence that needs to happen,” Bates says. “That includes making sure the soils are ok and not polluted, the appraised value makes sense, and a few other things that takes a little bit of time to coordinate and lineup.”

Bates says the original plan of using the location connected to Community Connections had fallen through due to being cost prohibitive.

“In terms of lease space and the amount of renovations that would be required,” Bates says. “We put that option on pause while we looked at some other more long term options in the community.”

Currently the temporary shelter at the Cranbrook Travelodge has housed over 200 people since opening in 2020.

Click here for more information from BC Housing.

Click here to watch the presentation.

– Tyler Bates, BC Housing Director of Regional Development