Penticton, Nx̌astwilxtn - 3240 Skaha Lake Road

The above rendering is an approximation of what we intend to build and is subject to change.

Overview

BC Housing is partnering with ASK Wellness Society and the Ooknakane Friendship Centre to provide up to 54 new recovery-focused homes with an Indigenous cultural lens at 3240 Skaha Lake Road in Penticton.

This housing will be prioritized for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are capable of and committed to living without problematic substance use and are managing other barriers including mental health. Residents will be welcomed from a range of backgrounds, different ethnicities and cultures reflecting the population of Penticton.

The building will be named Nx̌astwilxtn (N-hast-wheel-tn), a Sylix word, which in the English language means “a place to come for healing and wellness, or a place where I came to feel good.”

ASK Wellness would operate the building in partnership with the Ooknakane Friendship Centre. These new homes will be operated with a person-centered approach that meets people where they are at to help them thrive. These are self-contained studio homes with supports provided on-site 24 hours per day 365 days per year, to ensure residents can achieve and maintain housing stability.

Project Details

Some features of the project include:

  • a four-storey modular building
  • up to 54 new studio homes
  • accessible units, and
  • space to deliver programs and supportive services

The unique program at Nx̌astwilxtn will also provide in-house access to substance use recovery counselling, Indigenous cultural supports, and vocational support.

Construction is likely to begin in Spring/Summer 2021 and to be completed in Spring/Summer 2022.

Community Dialogue Sessions

To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to learn more, ask questions and provide feedback, BC Housing, ASK Wellness Society and the Ooknakane Friendship Centre will host three virtual small group dialogue sessions.

These facilitated sessions will begin with a presentation to share information on the project, break out groups to hear from attendees, followed by a question-and-answer period. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, small group neighbourhood dialogues will take place virtually at the below listed times.

Please register for one of the following sessions (space is limited):

Community Feedback

BC Housing and our partners also hosted a virtual Neighbourhood Information Session on this project on January 19, 2021 from 6:30 to 8:00pm. We thank everyone from the community who attended to learn more, ask questions, and provide feedback to the project team. You can watch the video recording of the session below.


Your feedback and comments are important to us

We welcome questions and comments below in the Q&A tool or by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.

The above rendering is an approximation of what we intend to build and is subject to change.

Overview

BC Housing is partnering with ASK Wellness Society and the Ooknakane Friendship Centre to provide up to 54 new recovery-focused homes with an Indigenous cultural lens at 3240 Skaha Lake Road in Penticton.

This housing will be prioritized for people who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness who are capable of and committed to living without problematic substance use and are managing other barriers including mental health. Residents will be welcomed from a range of backgrounds, different ethnicities and cultures reflecting the population of Penticton.

The building will be named Nx̌astwilxtn (N-hast-wheel-tn), a Sylix word, which in the English language means “a place to come for healing and wellness, or a place where I came to feel good.”

ASK Wellness would operate the building in partnership with the Ooknakane Friendship Centre. These new homes will be operated with a person-centered approach that meets people where they are at to help them thrive. These are self-contained studio homes with supports provided on-site 24 hours per day 365 days per year, to ensure residents can achieve and maintain housing stability.

Project Details

Some features of the project include:

  • a four-storey modular building
  • up to 54 new studio homes
  • accessible units, and
  • space to deliver programs and supportive services

The unique program at Nx̌astwilxtn will also provide in-house access to substance use recovery counselling, Indigenous cultural supports, and vocational support.

Construction is likely to begin in Spring/Summer 2021 and to be completed in Spring/Summer 2022.

Community Dialogue Sessions

To ensure that everyone has an opportunity to learn more, ask questions and provide feedback, BC Housing, ASK Wellness Society and the Ooknakane Friendship Centre will host three virtual small group dialogue sessions.

These facilitated sessions will begin with a presentation to share information on the project, break out groups to hear from attendees, followed by a question-and-answer period. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, small group neighbourhood dialogues will take place virtually at the below listed times.

Please register for one of the following sessions (space is limited):

Community Feedback

BC Housing and our partners also hosted a virtual Neighbourhood Information Session on this project on January 19, 2021 from 6:30 to 8:00pm. We thank everyone from the community who attended to learn more, ask questions, and provide feedback to the project team. You can watch the video recording of the session below.


Your feedback and comments are important to us

We welcome questions and comments below in the Q&A tool or by email to communityrelations@bchousing.org.

Have a question or comment? Write below.

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  • Is this housing for current Penticton residents who are on this path? Will you be bringing people here from out of our community, outside of the Penticton area? What support is in place for low income, working families, when are these facilities becoming available? Not to sound uncaring bug I’m concerned that Penticton does not have the support services available to support this housing project. Recent Penticton projects have overwhelmed social programs, police services, ambulance and fire services, will added funding be provided to support these added needs? If you can’t tell, I’m strongly against this project. Thanks so much.

    Mike asked 2 months ago

    The Province is planning to develop the site at 3240 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton, to meet critical community housing needs. In May 2021, there were 196 people on the Coordinated Access list, a housing wait list, more than 80% of whom have lived in Penticton for more than five years. 

    These new supportive housing units will be Phase 1 of the redevelopment of the site. BC Housing is considering a potential Phase 2 for this project to build affordable rental housing for potential clients including seniors, singles, families and persons with disabilities on the remainder of the site.

    According to the RCMP, less than 10% of Penticton police calls for service from January to March 2021 went to homeless shelters. This statistic was based on calls for not only Victory Church but also BC Housing’s supportive housing sites in Penticton – it included Burdock, Compass Court and Fairhaven.  

  • What happened to the audit the City of Penticton requested?

    concerned citizen asked 2 months ago

    A review of the three supportive housing sites in Penticton is currently underway and we will be connecting with the City to discuss the timelines of the review.

  • I’m not happy about this building as a neighbour …. The whole of south Penticton seems to be nothing but supportive housing … when I look in front of Burger King the mess they make , I presume you know about that location , it seems visitors come into Penticton, and after passing by the JEWEL PARK Skaha Beach Park, all they see is nothing but supportive housing of one type or another, we see 3 towers, then many many motels converted to supportive housing . We are worried about noise, needles, garbage etc. And don’t tell me it will be “managed”. The other conversions are all “managed” as well. Yeah right ! Welcome to Pot-ticton. Drop in capital of BC Georges & Cheryl Jansen

    Georges asked 3 months ago

    Supportive housing at 3240 Skaha Lake Road will be recovery focused and intended for locals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness and who no longer struggle with problematic substance use and are further along their journey to recovery and healing. 

    People who experience homelessness are as varied as any other neighbour. They may be seniors, people with disabilities, people who have employment but no housing, people who are working through mental health concerns and/or substance use. All residents in supportive housing have made a choice to work towards living a healthy, stable life. 

    BC Housing and our non-profit partners are committed to being a good neighbour in developing new supportive housing. Both staff and residents would be committed to keeping the property maintained with a daily clean-up, just as any other resident in the neighborhood. There will be staff on-site 24/7 working with residents on their path to a more stable and healthy life.

    The Province is working hard to build the right mix and supply of homes that people need in Penticton. These are complex and evolving societal challenges that will take time to address—there are no “quick fixes” nor a “one-size-fits-all” approach. Together in partnership with all levels of government, Indigenous Peoples, non-profits, and the private sector, we will continue to strive for a shared goal of a province where everyone has a safe, secure and affordable home. Shelter is a basic human right and everyone is deserving of safe, secure housing and British Columbians must work together to create the inclusive communities we all aspire to live in. For more information please check out the recorded presentation on the Let’s Talk site. Penticton, Nx̌astwilxtn - 3240 Skaha Lake Road | Let's Talk Housing BC (letstalkhousingbc.ca)

  • Why is this residential area chosen for this facility? This project is definitely in the wrong location. It should be put in the downtown region where other shelters and homes are located.

    Lainey asked 3 months ago

    The Province is planning to develop the site at 3240 Skaha Lake Road, Penticton, to meet critical community housing needs. This is not a shelter. The proposal is to build up to 54 new permanent purpose-built studio homes with supports  for local community members.  This housing will be prioritized for people who are ready to make a substantive change in their lives or are already on a path to recovery from problematic substance use.  

  • General

    Ted asked 3 months ago

    Hi Ted,

    Can you please add your question? Thanks.