Affordable housing can be difficult to find and the quest for this housing is sometimes made more difficult when a resident lives in a more rural setting.
To help with this matter, the government of British Columbia has made a commitment to $516 million toward 68 housing projects throughout the province.
One of the groups to receive a portion of this funding is the Arrowtarian Senior Citizen Society (ASCS) in Nakusp. They have received $750,000 to help with their project, called Phase 5.
The society is looking to build a three level, nine unit apartment complex on the same block as the rest of the ASCS seniors’ housing units.
Having these units would be helpful if a senior is potentially looking to downsize their living space.
“When you look at the populations, and this comes from the Better At Home program, the Nakusp statistics are 390 people over 65,” said Earl Frerichs, president of the ASCS. “So 25 per cent of the population of Nakusp is over 65, 34 per cent of Burton is over 65, 29 per cent of Fauquier is over 65, and 25 per cent of Edgewood is over 65.”
Each unit will be 500 square feet, meaning a single bedroom, a bathroom, and an open area.
Amenities offered in the new building will be somewhat limited.
“It’s just the basics,” said Frerichs. “There’s laundry, there’s the one bedroom suites, and there will be scooter storage.”
The first floor will have a mechanical room, scooter storage, and three units. The second floor will have three units and the building’s laundry room. The third floor will have the final three units along with tenant storage. Parking will be available behind the building and around the side of the building.
Frerichs said there are already several seniors expressing an interest in becoming a tenant in the new building.
Construction on Phase 5 is expected to begin in June of this year and will be completed in December of 2019.