After surmounting significant public opposition, the team behind a housing project for men recovering from drugs and alcohol addictions may have had their efforts scuttled by an organization they thought was on their side.

Tom Smithwick from Freedom香蕉视频直播檚 Door said he香蕉视频直播檚 recently spoken with a representative from BC Housing, and learned that the $4 million funding they香蕉视频直播檇 been relying on to build a 49-unit supportive housing project in Rutland is not likely to come through due to a changing mandate.

香蕉视频直播淲e at Freedom香蕉视频直播檚 Door put in a grant application to BC Housing over a year ago for the Freedom House project at McCurdy and Rutland roads,香蕉视频直播� said Smithwick. 香蕉视频直播淎nd we received a phone call indicating the applications of the past will not be going forward and there will be a new policy or set of criteria in place to decide who will be able to get funding from BC Housing.香蕉视频直播�

READ MORE: FREEDOM HOUSE LOOKS TO THE FUTURE

Plans for Freedom香蕉视频直播檚 House seem to fall outside the newly established funding criteria.

Grants are available for joint ventures with developers creating market-cost housing for middle-income British Columbians, Indigenous housing, addictions housing and for women who are fleeing violent environments.

The closest Freedom香蕉视频直播檚 House comes to meeting the criteria is under the addictions housing model, but Smithwick said that Freedom香蕉视频直播檚 House is for people who are already dry and in recovery 香蕉视频直播� so it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 meet the Crown corporation香蕉视频直播檚 requirements.

The total cost for the Freedom House project was $9 million. Around $5 million was to be raised by the organization香蕉视频直播�$2 million of which has been raised香蕉视频直播� and the other $4 million was expected to come from a BC Housing grant.

香蕉视频直播淯nless we have a knight in shining armour on a white horse giving us $4 million instead of the government that puts an end to the project,香蕉视频直播� said Smithwick.

香蕉视频直播淲e will have to move to a Plan B,香蕉视频直播� he said, adding that the need doesn香蕉视频直播檛 go away just because a funding opportunity has.

香蕉视频直播淲e have 50 guys with us now, and housing is critical in Kelowna. Affordable housing is almost impossible and there is almost rental no housing available香蕉视频直播� so when our graduates need us the question is where do they go?香蕉视频直播�

An abstinence environment, which is what Freedom House was expected to create, is in high need.

香蕉视频直播淲e have to solve that somehow,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e want to be part of that solution as we have in the past. We have been operating for 16 years as of Sept. 1, with five duplex homes housing 60 guys香蕉视频直播� but the teams (are) greater than that.香蕉视频直播�

Plans for Freedom House were some of the most hotly contested of 2017, with residents of the area urging council to reject the proposal.

Many said it was in the wrong location, being too residential, too close to schools, short on amenities and services. They also complained it would be too big and would add more traffic to an already busy intersection.

Many who opposed the development also took direct aim at the Freedom香蕉视频直播檚 Door program and the men who will live at the building.

After a four-hour public hearing that saw close to 300 people pack council chambers in September 2017, the project was approved by council in a 6-3 vote by Kelowna city council.

BC Housing has yet to return a call.

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