The Osoyoos Indian Band received a letter from Town of Oliver council in support of a new affordable housing project.
The Band asked council on August 5 for a letter of support for the project, which will be located on reserve. Council issued a letter of support in a regular open council meeting on August 24.
“On behalf of Council, I am happy to provide you with a letter of support to the Osoyoos Indian Band application to secure funding to develop and construct approximately 40 units of housing,” read the letter signed by Oliver mayor, Martin Johansen.
The Osoyoos Indian Band asked for the letter of support to add to their application to B.C. Housing’s request for proposals for the B.C. Housing Community Housing Fund.
The new, 40-unit building will be located just north of the PetroCan station on Tucelnuit Drive and will feature a mixture of affordable house units, rent geared to income units, and deep subsidy units for low income residents.
It will be operated by Wolf Creek Housing Society, a non-profit set up for the purpose of running the housing development. The society will own and operate the building on a 60-year operating agreement with B.C. Housing. The land will be leased by the society from the Osoyoos Indian Band.
The proposal to the Town of Oliver said the housing is intended to provide affordable units to band and non-band Indigenous people and the people of Oliver.
“Currently, lack of affordable housing is a barrier for recruiting and retaining staff for both on and off reserve businesses. The target populations are families, seniors, and persons with a disability, youth leaving care, and women and women with children who have experienced or (are) at risk of violence,” reads the letter to council.
The proposed building will have a mixture of six one bedroom units, 24 two bedroom units, and ten three bedroom units.
A map showing where the purposed housing development by the Osoyoos Indian Band will be located, on Tucelnuit Drive just north of the PetroCan station. (Image: Town of Oliver Regular Open Council)
Sounds like a worthwhile project. I respect the Indian band for creating affordable housing and a health center rather than pot shops and casinos. Now let’s hope they get the National Park off the ground. Call it “Okanagan Nation National Park”, and I’ll respect them even more.
Pot shops and casinos make money. Money feeds families. Money creates opportunities. Many indigenous people tend to be good at politics and business… However they decide to do it – good for them.