-Local non-profit groups say getting facility operational by March unrealistic-
OSOYOOS TIMES-February 11, 2009-
By Paul EverestrnOsoyoos Times
The B.C. government will be requesting an expression of interest from local non-profit organizations to operate an Osoyoos facility recently purchased by the province to house the homeless or people facing mental health issues.
The government announced on Jan. 30 that it was acquiring 15 facilities across the province, including the 10-unit Desert Valley Care seniors care centre in Osoyoos, for affordable housing needs.
The plan is to have the facility occupied by the end of next month and even with such a tight timeline, Penticton-Okanagan Valley MLA Bill Barisoff is optimistic the 10 spaces will be filled before April.
(Housing and Social Development) Minister (Rich) Coleman was pretty adamant in getting some of these things done, he said.
Barisoff could not give an exact timeline on when the province will approach local charitable organizations about administering the facility, but he said that the request for proposals will go out in the near future.rnI would expect within the next 60 days or so, if not sooner, he said.
Leroy Olson, secretary and past president for the Osoyoos Elks Lodge No. 436, said his organization was approached by the province three months ago about operating the facility.
The Elks declined because they did not feel that their members would be able to effectively run the centre once it is occupied.
Our members are ancient, Olson said, adding that most Elks are in their 70s and the few who are in their 40s are working full time.
And since no one from the area has taken on the operating duties yet, Olson said he feels the province's timeline for filling the facility's 10 units is unrealistic.
That's pretty short notice, he said.
Pastor Phil Johnson of the Osoyoos Baptist Church, who also helps co-ordinate the Osoyoos Food Bank, also said getting operations off the ground by next month won't be possible.
If they're talking about going into March, no, it won't happen, he said, adding that he was told by BC Housing that non-profit groups likely won't be approached until April.
Johnson said he is planning to meet with representatives of the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre and Interior's Health's mental health department to discuss a partnership for operating the facility.
The church, he said, could provide a great deal of help because there are people within the church community who have backgrounds in medical care, policing and running homeless shelters.
We have a lot of resources in our church family, he said.
The province is still working to finalize the purchase with the facility's current owners and the deal is expected to be completed by March.
The asking price for the property was $599,000 as of Feb. 6 and it was first listed in April of 2008.
The facility has been unused since November, when the last of its residents were moved to the new Mariposa Gardens care facility.
As for why the province selected Osoyoos as one of the communities to purchase housing in, Barisoff said there is a need in the South Okanagan for social and affordable housing.
If we could accommodate that need it would be greatly appreciated, he said, adding that he and Coleman had toured the care facility last summer.
It's certainly a facility that Minister Coleman felt would service the South Okanagan and particularly the Osoyoos area quite well.rnBarisoff also said the facility's operations will be funded by the provincial government.
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