Chandler House, a shared accommodation for eight individuals who experienced chronic homelessness, opened in 2014 and is set to this June.
Alexandra Skinner-Reynolds with BC Housing explains Inn from the Cold came to BC Housing two years ago to ask for assistance because donations alone were not covering their costs with the Chandler House.
害羞草研究所淏C Housing provided one-time funding to get the society through to the end of the lease in 2017,害羞草研究所� she stated in an email. 害羞草研究所淎t the same time, BC Housing informed the society that it would need to find another location when the lease expired.害羞草研究所�
When IFTC started the Chandler House the society was entirely funded by donations with no financial involvement from BC Housing.
Jan Schulz, Executive Director of IFTC, says the one-time funding of $66,000 annually ends on March 30.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just the end of the agreement and we continue work very strongly with BC Housing to find other accommodation,害羞草研究所� explained Schulz.
With the funding finished the Chandler House is unable to operate.
However the lease with the private property owner, which was drawn up three years ago, comes to an end in June and the owner does not wish to renew.
害羞草研究所淭he owners of the house were not interested in a lease shorter than three years, at the same cost,害羞草研究所� said Skinner-Reynolds.
Both BC Housing and IFTC are working together to find a better and more suitable space.
害羞草研究所淭hey are helping us look and this is something we are continuing to work together on,害羞草研究所� said Schulz.
There is always the option for the eight individuals who currently live at the Chandler House to apply for an alternative place to live through Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 coordinated access program 害羞草研究所� where BC Housing works in tandem with other societies and housing providers.
害羞草研究所淲hat we are looking for, and working with BC Housing, is for a facility that can have more people besides just our current residents,害羞草研究所� said Schulz. 害羞草研究所淲e are hoping for more than eight units害羞草研究所o residents have a home within a home.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚f we do go with a larger facility then economies of scale will help, as this kind of facility is not cheap to run,害羞草研究所� she said.
The residents of Chandler House have subsidized rent and there is support from fundraising and donors, as BC Housing wasn害羞草研究所檛 covering the full cost of the facility.
The IFTC administration offices and the Chandler House Free Store are also located at the Chandler House and will need a new location after June.
害羞草研究所淔inding an office is not an issue, it is finding a new home for these guys (that is an issue) and that is a top priority for sure.害羞草研究所�
The free store may remained closed until a new housing facility can be found due to the current circumstance.
