It害羞草研究所檚 coming down to the wire for residents of a Kelowna trailer park facing imminent eviction.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, residents of 44 units still standing at the Hiawatha RV Park found out they have four months to vacate their properties.

A controversial large condo development, spearheaded by Westcorp, an Edmonton-based developer, was revived in February of this year. They have owned the property, currently occupied by the mobile home park, since 2007. Come February 2021, once everyone is evicted, they plan on demolishing the homes and starting new.

READ MORE: Westcorp revives controversial development at Kelowna mobile home park

Park resident Victoria Fox is dreading the move. But she害羞草研究所檚 speaking up for more than just herself. She said many people with disabilities reside in the park害羞草研究所檚 low-income housing, and moving them during the winter, and during a pandemic, will be a nightmare.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 60 families that have to try and find homes, in four months, in the middle of winter,害羞草研究所� said Fox, adding that in the years she has lived there, the neighbourhood has been very supportive of her and her family. She said it害羞草研究所檚 been a great place to live.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be so weird to have to leave our homes害羞草研究所� half of us might end up homeless. So, what are we supposed to do?害羞草研究所�

Residents of the neighbourhood have started a petition against the set eviction date of Feb. 28. They say an extension to the end of April would give them more time to find new homes, as there is little to no availability for affordable housing at the moment. Fox also explained they have disputed the notice through Service BC, and hope this may result in an extension.

Westcorp vice president of operations Gail Temple said she only found out about this proposed extension yesterday (Oct. 28), and that it 害羞草研究所渞emains to be seen.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a construction schedule害羞草研究所� so we will be as sensitive to that as we can,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淧art of the reason we were hoping it would be springtime, is exactly that. It害羞草研究所檒l be way easier for people to find accommodation in the spring.害羞草研究所�

According to Westcorp, residents have long known of the park害羞草研究所檚 fate; demolition and revitalization. The company received approval in 2013 to redevelop the 18-acre site. In an effort to support those soon to be evicted, Westcorp said packages were sent to each with contact information for other low-income housing in the area.

Fox said despite applying to all low-income housing providers in the area, she is now on a one-year waiting list. It was recently reported that Kelowna has the fifth-highest rental rate in the country. The average two-bedroom rental unit in the city now costs $1750 per month.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 nothing affordable for us, and they害羞草研究所檙e not helping us, they害羞草研究所檙e not accommodating us,害羞草研究所� said Fox.

READ MORE: Large Glenmore rental development given greenlight by Kelowna council

However, there are far fewer people to move now than there were in the recent past. The discovery of black mould in a home resulted in the inspection and demolition of 49 homes, displacing many. In 2013, there were 94 sets of mobile home owners renting pads from the company.

Temple said condo development or not, the more-than-50-year-old mobile homes were reaching end-of-life and needed to be taken down. She said the homes were purchased from those who owned them, at a fair price determined in collaboration with the City of Kelowna.

Fox understands this, but just wishes they were supported more.

害羞草研究所淚 would just like to know why they don害羞草研究所檛 care about their tenants. Why aren害羞草研究所檛 you helping us a bit more? Why aren害羞草研究所檛 you putting us into one of your apartment buildings? Do you want the rest of us to be homeless?害羞草研究所�

There is no guarantee the new development will be able to house those who will be evicted.

害羞草研究所淭hey say it will be affordable housing, but I doubt it,害羞草研究所� said Fox.

Temple said they never promised the new development would be affordable. However, some of the housing she said will be appropriate for families.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e not building affordable housing, I want to be clear about that害羞草研究所� this is not going to be replacing affordable housing,害羞草研究所� said Temple, adding the entire site will be a large rental project.

In response to claims Westcorp 害羞草研究所榙oesn害羞草研究所檛 care害羞草研究所� and that many may go homeless, Temple said she was 害羞草研究所渟orry to hear someone would feel that way.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚 know change is always really, really tough but that is absolutely the last thing we would feel害羞草研究所� I think we害羞草研究所檙e trying to be as sensitive and helpful through this whole process as we possibly can.害羞草研究所�

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Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: phil.mclachlan@kelownacapnews.com

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