Itsa国际传媒檚 coming down to the wire for residents of a Kelowna trailer park facing imminent eviction.

On Tuesday, Oct. 27, residents of 44 units still standing at the Hiawatha RV Park found out they have four months to vacate their properties.

A controversial large condo development, spearheaded by Westcorp, an Edmonton-based developer, was revived in February of this year. They have owned the property, currently occupied by the mobile home park, since 2007. Come February 2021, once everyone is evicted, they plan on demolishing the homes and starting new.

READ MORE: Westcorp revives controversial development at Kelowna mobile home park

Park resident Victoria Fox is dreading the move. But shesa国际传媒檚 speaking up for more than just herself. She said many people with disabilities reside in the parksa国际传媒檚 low-income housing, and moving them during the winter, and during a pandemic, will be a nightmare.

sa国际传媒淭hatsa国际传媒檚 60 families that have to try and find homes, in four months, in the middle of winter,sa国际传媒� said Fox, adding that in the years she has lived there, the neighbourhood has been very supportive of her and her family. She said itsa国际传媒檚 been a great place to live.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 going to be so weird to have to leave our homessa国际传媒� half of us might end up homeless. So, what are we supposed to do?sa国际传媒�

Residents of the neighbourhood have started a petition against the set eviction date of Feb. 28. They say an extension to the end of April would give them more time to find new homes, as there is little to no availability for affordable housing at the moment. Fox also explained they have disputed the notice through Service BC, and hope this may result in an extension.

Westcorp vice president of operations Gail Temple said she only found out about this proposed extension yesterday (Oct. 28), and that it sa国际传媒渞emains to be seen.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 a construction schedulesa国际传媒� so we will be as sensitive to that as we can,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淧art of the reason we were hoping it would be springtime, is exactly that. Itsa国际传媒檒l be way easier for people to find accommodation in the spring.sa国际传媒�

According to Westcorp, residents have long known of the parksa国际传媒檚 fate; demolition and revitalization. The company received approval in 2013 to redevelop the 18-acre site. In an effort to support those soon to be evicted, Westcorp said packages were sent to each with contact information for other low-income housing in the area.

Fox said despite applying to all low-income housing providers in the area, she is now on a one-year waiting list. It was recently reported that Kelowna has the fifth-highest rental rate in the country. The average two-bedroom rental unit in the city now costs $1750 per month.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 nothing affordable for us, and theysa国际传媒檙e not helping us, theysa国际传媒檙e not accommodating us,sa国际传媒� said Fox.

READ MORE: Large Glenmore rental development given greenlight by Kelowna council

However, there are far fewer people to move now than there were in the recent past. The discovery of black mould in a home resulted in the inspection and demolition of 49 homes, displacing many. In 2013, there were 94 sets of mobile home owners renting pads from the company.

Temple said condo development or not, the more-than-50-year-old mobile homes were reaching end-of-life and needed to be taken down. She said the homes were purchased from those who owned them, at a fair price determined in collaboration with the City of Kelowna.

Fox understands this, but just wishes they were supported more.

sa国际传媒淚 would just like to know why they donsa国际传媒檛 care about their tenants. Why arensa国际传媒檛 you helping us a bit more? Why arensa国际传媒檛 you putting us into one of your apartment buildings? Do you want the rest of us to be homeless?sa国际传媒�

There is no guarantee the new development will be able to house those who will be evicted.

sa国际传媒淭hey say it will be affordable housing, but I doubt it,sa国际传媒� said Fox.

Temple said they never promised the new development would be affordable. However, some of the housing she said will be appropriate for families.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e not building affordable housing, I want to be clear about thatsa国际传媒� this is not going to be replacing affordable housing,sa国际传媒� said Temple, adding the entire site will be a large rental project.

In response to claims Westcorp sa国际传媒榙oesnsa国际传媒檛 caresa国际传媒� and that many may go homeless, Temple said she was sa国际传媒渟orry to hear someone would feel that way.sa国际传媒�

sa国际传媒淚 know change is always really, really tough but that is absolutely the last thing we would feelsa国际传媒� I think wesa国际传媒檙e trying to be as sensitive and helpful through this whole process as we possibly can.sa国际传媒�

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Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email: phil.mclachlan@kelownacapnews.com

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