PENTICTON – A new opportunity for affordable housing will soon be available in Penticton with the province's purchase of the 42 unit former Bel Air Motel.

The motel, located at 2670 Skaha Lake Road, will be renovated to provide housing for people in need who are able to live independently, according to a media release. The units are expected to be available by late fall with residents phased in as renovations in each unit are completed.

The property, to be owned by the province with BC Housing providing daily property management duties will be renamed Fairhaven.

Penticton Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says the purchase was a welcome and much needed development in the city.

“Affordable housing for our most disadvantaged residents has been a long-time goal for our community,” he says.

The renovated motel suites will be available to low income adults who require support services, including homeless or those at risk to be homeless, those with mental or physical needs, those who need safe, affordable housing and those already in supportive housing who are looking to transfer to a location more suite to their needs, the release says.

Rents will be charged at the basic shelter amount of $375 monthly.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's Jeanette Wilkinson says the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation has been involved in two other housing projects in Penticton, including the 33-unit Chestnut Place, a seniors’ assisted living complex created through the revitalization of the Penticton Retirement Centre and the Kiwanis Van Horne Apartments.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.